Founded in 1904, Saint-Joseph Hospital has become a key institution in the Marseille healthcare landscape. In response to evolving medical practices and needs, the hospital has launched a redesign of its master plan.
The construction of two extensions marks the first phase of work, addressing the need for more appropriately scaled spaces aligned with current medical standards. To the north, the Buès extension is dedicated to cross-sectional imaging services, adding new examination rooms. To the south, the second extension expands the operating block and includes two levels of consultation areas.
As the third-largest healthcare facility in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, the hospital complex occupies a site of over four hectares, rich in history. This legacy is particularly visible in its outdoor spaces, with gardens providing green breathing areas in the urban environment.
The hospital is organized around a central hub: the De Vernejoul building, constructed in 1993, which houses emergency services, the operating block, intensive care, and imaging departments. The architectural ensemble, composed of buildings from the 1950s to the 2010s of varying styles and heights, reflects the hospital’s continuous evolution and successive restructurings. These layers also contribute to its distinctive identity. The extensions, designed by AIA Life Designers, have been carefully conceived to integrate into this heterogeneous architectural landscape without disrupting it.
The Buès extension, located to the north, connects the De Vernejoul and Buès buildings, which house imaging services. This mixed-use structure combines new construction with the reuse of an existing gallery beneath the Oratoire building, which has been enclosed. Simple in form, the extension creates visual continuity with the surrounding buildings. Lower in height than its neighbors, its roof is topped with a planted terrace, offering a pleasant, visible green space that acts as an additional façade.
The southern extension connects to the De Vernejoul building and takes the form of a concrete structure whose architectural language echoes the Buès extension. Access is provided via a redesigned forecourt. User flows are organized on the ground and first floors, corresponding to the two consultation levels. The floors aligned with the second floor of the De Vernejoul building—home to the operating block—are directly connected to it. The same applies to the consultation levels, except for the ground floor, due to a fire service access route that must remain unobstructed.
Given the site’s steep slope and to better integrate with existing buildings, the design features soft, dynamic lines and a terraced layout with green roofs. This configuration lightens the visual impact of the new building while giving it a unique, multifaceted identity that fits within its well-established surroundings.
To ensure visual and material harmony between the two extensions, both use concrete and external insulation that enhances thermal performance. The façades, with discreet window frames, are clad in terracotta and wavy brick with a warm, light tone reminiscent of local stone—particularly that of the Calanques.
With the construction of these two extensions, Saint-Joseph Hospital gains new space and improved functionality. This renewal of the facility is a direct investment in the quality of patient care.
Project Management
Client : Saint-Joseph Hospital Foundation, Marseille
Architects : AIA Architectes
Engineering : AIA Ingénierie
Landscape Design : AIA Territoires
Environmental Expertise : AIA Environnement
Project Coordination : AIA Management
Health and Safety / Control Office : Alpes Contrôles – South Mediterranean Agency
Surface Area
New construction : 6,700 m²
Renovation : 2,600 m²
Construction Cost
€30 million (excl. VAT)
Delivery Dates
South Building : Winter 2024
North Building : Summer 2024
Environmental Standard
Mediterranean Sustainable Buildings Approach