In November 2004 Zaha Hadid was selected to design the corporate headquarters for CMA-CGM, French shipping-container company in Marseille, facing the sea.
The design consists out of a high rise tower with offices, and a low rise part with public functions like an auditorium, restaurants, a large aquarium and a maritime museum. The blue glass façade, with 2 sloping slides, makes it 'elegant, fluid and sculptural'. Hadid's London-based firm was chosen over two other Pritzker prize winners, Norman Foster and Christian de Portzamparc. The 147 m, 33 storey high tower is also called "Tour French Line", to be completed in the second half of 2009. It will be the city's highest building, and first tower to be built after 30 years. Situated on a small strip of land, wedged in between infrastructure, it is part of a large redevelopment plan for the Marseille waterfront: Euromediterranée.
I'm lucky enough to see the tower from my window when I'm at work.
