Reviving the Hexagon for the University Library on the Luminy Campus of Aix- Marseille University

Abstract

The Hexagone Bibliothèque Universitaire de Sciences de Luminy, Aix-Marseille Université / Hexagon University Library at the Luminy campus of the Aix-Marseille University is located near the entrance to the Calanques National Park on the outskirts of Marseille in France. The Hexagon was the university restaurant from the early 1960s and regarded as the heart of the campus. It was closed early this century when a new restaurant was built. It became famous for its graffiti and housed many stunning murals. Opération Campus, a national programme for campus redevelopment, retained the Luminy campus for its research potential and the development plan included use of the hexagonal building to house the new library and several other services to the university community. A local architect was chosen to reinterpret the Hexagon and adapt its reuse to the highest international standards. Following constructive dialogue between librarians, the architect and the university consulting architect, the new Luminy Hexagon Library was designed and opened in September 2018. It combines the comfort of a social place on campus with the latest equipment for supporting learning, teaching and research. The chapter describes how librarians and architects worked together to reactivate the Hexagon as the heart of the campus.