Sleep between works of art and crafts? Make your reservation at Pavilion Southway.
Are you attracted to the world of art and creativity? Do you dream of sleeping in a museum or a gallery? Or, better yet, in an artist's studio? In short, would you like to spend one or several nights in a place full of beauty, creation and debate? You may be interested in reserving a room (the only room) at Southway Pavilion, a 19th-century mansion full of surprises, in Marseille.
William Morris's Red House, where the artist and his friends enjoyed creating together, reconciling art, craft and a domestic environment, and which was the epicenter of Pre-Raphaeliteism, has been the inspiration for this exciting project. Its creator, the art historian Emmanuelle Luciani, was also influenced by other similar initiatives, such as the Santo Sospir villas by Jean Cocteau and the E-1027 by Eileen Gray.
This is, at the moment, the only room that this house-work of art has.
The decoration, furniture, objects and Works of art, in the context of everyday life, give life to this elegant 19th century suburban house, located at 433 Boulevard Michelet. At the gates of the district of Mazargues, a neighborhood of fishermen of the Calanques, as well as workers and artisans, Southway Pavilion serves as a stage for residencies and exhibitions, a workspace for French and international artists, and a meeting place and public discussion.
Emmanuelle Luciani devised this artistic project in a house that belonged to her family.
The goal was to create a true ecosystem, Emmanuelle tells us. “Something that is at the same time a hotel, a gallery, a house and a workshop. I am a curator, and I dedicate myself a lot to set design, but I also design objects for collectors and works of art. We work globally, designing frescoes with artists for architects or individuals. For example, we did the mural painting at the entrance of the Hotel Tuba in Marseille for the architect Marion Mailaender. Southway Studio is made up of four people: Élie Chich, Andrew Humke, Bella Hunt & Dante Di Calce and sometimes Jenna Käes, Jacopo Pagin... We work throughout France and Europe thanks to our partners, such as the A Mano Studio gallery in Biarritz.”
Facade of Pavilion Southway, in Marseille.
Despite initial fears due to the pandemic, the team worked hard to open in July this year, and they have had many visitors and guests this summer. The house has been owned by Emmanuelle's family since the 1880s. “It belonged to my great-great-grandfather,” he recalls. It was rented for a long time and in June 2019 it was released, at the same time that I inaugurated my arts & crafts exhibition Les Chemins du Sud (The roads of the south), at the Regional Museum of Contemporary Art of Sérignan and in the Abbey of Fontfroide, in the south of France. Many museum loans were shown, as well as a large number of productions from my studio, Southway Studio. It was beautiful but it took place in a simple white cubicle, and I really wanted to do it in a more humane place, and permanently."
One of the rooms in this 19th-century house converted into an artistic laboratory.
Luciani wondered why decorative art was such a problem for 20th century artists. “For me, for something to be ornement is a gift, not a crime,” she stresses. “Then I received a loan from the Musée d'Orsay, a wallpaper by William Morris, an artist I adore, as well as his Red House, built at the end of the 19th century in England. He embodies for me the possibility of being both an artist and a theoretician, like myself, who studied Fine Arts and Art History. So, with Southway Studio, I started investing in the house, restoring it, fitting it out, and turning it into an extension of my Les Chemins du Sud exhibition.
The art historian, who has been organizing and creating exhibitions and producing works of art for almost 10 years, defines this experience as very exciting. “We really want to share our creations, our practice and our universe with the people who rent the room. The guests also meet the artists in residence, and this creates a real exchange and discussions. It is a real ecosystem.
Each room of Pavilion Southway exhibits artisan objects and art.
“The house is open to curious people, in general, he continues. “It is a place to share. Élie Chich, also an art historian, conducts the guided tours. There are always artists and visitors, and I think that's very good. Our tenants are French and also from other countries, and they come from all walks of life. This summer we had the visit of many English speakers, for example. At the moment, we have only opened one room. We plan to open a second one next year, but it is a very intimate and quiet place, and for us it is important not to offer too many beds that break that atmosphere”.
The aim of the project is to create artistic dialogue and a meeting point.
Most of the artwork inside the house comes from Southway Studio. "We love the craft techniques and the interplay between art and craft. We present furniture, ceramics, blacksmithing, bronze and more. We also work on request, for individuals or interior designers. We have made services of ceramic plates, tables, kitchen hoods, door handles... The house contains a good range of our works of art for domestic use. We also exhibit painting, sculpture... either by studio artists or guest artists. The rooms also allow me to show the public my total decorative installations. In a way, I follow the tradition of the early 20th century assemblers. All of our objects are integrated into global sets that I design myself.”
Atelier of the house.
With what criteria are the artists who exhibit their work temporarily chosen? “They can be of all kinds. Among the Southway Studio artists are Bella Hunt & Dante Di Calce, but there are also artists in residence and works loaned by friends from galleries. Currently we have works by Ariana Papademetropoulos, ASMA & VSWV, Jacopo Pagin, Robert Brambora and Juliette Feck, for example".
In addition to the stay the price (from €120) includes breakfast. “Yes, and with the best coffee in the world! My father's Café Luciani, which has the oldest roasting plant in Marseille”, exclaims Emmanuelle. On the other hand, there is the possibility of accessing an optional private guided tour of the district or the city. “These routes are made to measure. Both Elijah and I are art historians and can accommodate visitors' requests. For example, for the Calanques, we make a visit related to the history of the fishermen and the place. In Marseille, we talk about the urban evolution and the materials of the city, etc. We take lovers of decorative art to a ceramic factory, for those who are interested in archaeology, we have prepared a visit to Roman and Greek remains”.
Pavillon Southway is close to a varied cultural offer: La Cité Radieuse by Le Corbusier, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Marseille, the Museum of Decorative Arts of the Château Borely...
Do you want to spend a few days surrounded by creativity and beauty?
The future unfolds before Southway Pavilion with an exciting range of possibilities. “We have many projects underway, including some commissions for objects, furniture and decorative ensembles. We also plan to host pavilion dinners and brunches, with invitations from artists, collectors, and theorists. And we will continue to make a great and careful exhibition every year (as Anima Mundi, in the crypts of the abbey of Saint-Victor in Marseille, which closes on December 14)".
Throughout the year There will also be educational workshops related to the aesthetics of Southway for young audiences, meetings with artists and tours of the Mazargues district. The pavilion also promises to host seminars and conferences organized in collaboration with Southway partners, such as the IEP of Aix-en-Provence, the MOCO and the Marseille School of Art.