The sanitary station is both a place of history – of a city in the heart of the fight against epidemics – and an architectural achievement of high quality, thought as a functional response to the question of health struggle.
Heiress of infirmaries of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, it allowed the disinfection of passengers arriving by sea and air, the detection of suspicious cases and care of patients. The site, abandoned for over forty years and having narrowly escaped destruction in 2009, is thus transformed into Museum Regards de Provence with private investment of the Foundation Regards de Provence.
At the center of the building, the steemers room kept after the rehabilitation, directly accessible from the entrance of the Museum, is a medium-sized space that presents an evocative and spectacular façade of machineries. The artistic documentary, incorporating these steemers, is enhanced through a strong three-dimensional scenography designed by the artist Dominik Barbier and Anne Van den Steen (45 minutes starting at 10:30 and on).
The staging of the film reveals strong images of ancient and contemporary world artists, such as reproductions of works by Peter Brueghel, Michel Serres or photos of John Craven on the station. It uses videos, electronic set design, special effects, sound, light and water, illustrating the symbolic theme of “The arrival by boat in Marseille”; of “Marseille and disease control”; the “Showers”; and “The Apotheosis”.
Permanent Artistic Documentary: 4 € – 3.50 €
Open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 18pm
This permanent artistic documentary is sponsored by the City of Marseille, the Fondation Crédit Agricole Alpes Provence and the Port of Marseille.
