A massive facelift for a confused downtown

For several decades the very center of Arcachon looked like a slightly chaotic mess. The area between the main city hall and the beach boulevard consisted of aging buildings that really did not match the prestigious reputation of the famous resort town. Local council leaders eventually decided that enough was enough.

In the late 2000s the municipality launched a massive 72 million euro redevelopment project to rebuild the entire downtown area. The grand transformation finished around 2017 with the creation of the brand new Place des Marquises. The district was completely transformed into a high end pedestrian plaza featuring luxury apartments chic boutiques and a grand modern market hall.

Building brand new 19th century history

The most fascinating part of this huge building project is its specific architectural style. Instead of building sleek minimalist glass boxes the planners decided to look backward into the past. They chose to pay heavy tribute to the golden age of Arcachon and its famous 19th century Winter Town style.

If you look closely at the facades around the square you will see a clever mix of historic elements. The builders added delicate white wooden trim and decorative fretwork to frame the balconies. They used a combination of exposed red bricks stone accents and warm cream plasterwork. The roofs are built at uneven heights to make the complex look like a series of distinct historic villas rather than one giant modern block.

A high end theme park for shoppers

This bold decision to wrap modern concrete in historic costume naturally sparked a lively debate among local critics. Some architectural experts playfully described the whole plaza as a Disney style pastiche or a very fancy shopping outlet village trying to pretend it has centuries of history.

Despite the critical comments from history purists the project has turned out to be a massive commercial success. The once disjointed center is now a vibrant gathering space filled with lively outdoor cafes and busy market stalls. Tourists love sitting in the sun while drinking coffee surrounded by fake Victorian luxury. It turns out that people prefer pretty illusions over authentic 70s concrete.