A new 240-bed hospital spanning 35,760 m2 is scheduled to open in 2029 in Salon-de-Provence (Bouches-du-Rhône), marking the culmination of a three-year construction project. Designed by the architectural firm Scau, along with Aelier Brigitte Gallony, Oasiis, Alpha-I & Coe Puez, Cronos Cuseos, Gni +, the hospital will anchor a 6.5-hectare site. This site will also host paramedical services and the Vignoli private clinic.the clinic will construct its own buildings while adhering to the site plan developed by SCAU,based on the “health village” concept requested by the Center Hospitalier du Pays Salonais.

The “health village” concept dictates the overall layout,reflecting the architects’ aim to create “an appropriate domestic scale” that integrates “with as much sweetness as possible” into the surrounding peri-urban area on the southwest edge of the city. A central plaza, green spaces, and separated traffic flows will contribute to a calming environment and clearer navigation. The gently sloping roofs and facade finishes of the interconnected R+2 buildings will evoke the traditional Mas provençaux architecture and color schemes of houses in the historic city center. “We wanted to break with the architectural codes of the hospital in favor of those, reassuring, of the habitat in order to promote the feeling of well-being and register in the local context,” says Hélène Sabatier, director of the new hospital project.

To address energy efficiency and land conservation, the design concentrates 900 parking spaces in the silo car park, located northwest of the site to shield it from the Mistral wind. The compact building design also maximizes open space. “We also made sure that the building’s size is modular to meet the evolution of health needs and care,” notes Mathieu Cabannes, associate architect at Scau.

BDM Approach

The hospital incorporates bioclimatic design principles, including windbreak hedges and fixed metal horizontal sunshades on the southern facades, to ensure energy savings and user comfort. Natural materials, such as wood, will be prioritized, even though concrete will be used for structural support. The high water table prevents the construction of a basement, eliminating the need for extensive excavation. This project aligns with the durable Mediterranean buildings approach (BDM), aiming for a high level of health, social, and environmental certification.

The project is primarily funded by €17 million from the sale of the current hospital site by the PACA public land establishment, along with €98 million from the Ségur plan and €29 million from local communities including Aix-Marseille-Provence metropolis, PACA region, Bouches-du-Rhône department, City of Salon-de-Provence. The total project cost is €172 million including tax (€100 million excl.).

“We wanted to break with the architectural codes of the hospital in favor of those, reassuring, of the habitat…”