Where the Art of Living, Meets Sustainable Design.
Drawing inspiration from the “Art of Living,” a lifestyle deeply rooted in the traditions of the Côte d'Azur, the Solène Marina captures the essence of leisure, community, and harmony with nature. The name Solène, derived from Latin roots meaning sacred, ceremony, and sunlight, honors the marina’s role in bringing people together to enjoy life in harmony with nature.
Project Goal: Design a sustainable floating marina in the Calanque of Sormiou to protect the vital posidonia meadow ecosystem.
Project Site: Calanque de Sormiou, Marseille, France 🇫🇷
Size: 400m2
Marina & Yacht Club Features:
Restaurant and bar
Rooftop lounge
Beach club
Leisure center (paddle boards, kayaks, e-foils)
Electric boat charging station
3 overnight accomodations
6 Moorings (up to 24m)
Sustainability & Innovation
Materials Selection:
🧱 Self-healing bioconcrete: uses bacteria to repair cracks and prevent leaks, enhancing the longevity of the structure.For the base of our structure, a novel form of self-healing bioconcrete, which uses bacteria to repair cracks and prevent leaks, enhancing the longevity of the structure was used. The base of the recycled concrete is made from waste materials like fly ash and slag and infused with Bacillus bacteria and calcium lactate, which together create a self-healing mechanism. When cracks form and water enters, the bacteria activate, converting calcium lactate into calcite (limestone), which seals the cracks. This process not only extends the lifespan of the concrete but also reduces the need for maintenance, making it a durable and sustainable construction material.
🪟 Transparent polycarbonate panels: were selected instead of glass for its longevity and impact resistance.Eco-friendly composite decks: the facility is fitted with eco-friendly composite decks from an innovative blend using roughly 95% recycled plastic film and reclaimed sawdust.
🪑 3D Printed Bioplastics: Our furniture molds are designed from 3D printed bioplastics, such as PLA (Polylactic Acid) as it is biodegradable being made from the fermentation of carbohydrate sources such as sugar cane and starch
Circular Design: Harnessing the Four Elements ♻️
💧 Water Management: Rainwater is harvested using the specially-designed umbrellas located above the rooftop lounge which connect directly through the “stem” to water desalination systems are located on board to be used for the hydroponic farms and other on-board needs.
🗑 Waste Management: Food waste collected from the restaurant is processed through an integrated composting system providing nutrient-rich compost used for our living walls.Waste from marina facilities and yachts is transported via an underwater vacuum system from a dedicated dock to a centralized sorting and composting facility.
🚽 All bathrooms are equipped with bio-toilets converting waste into biogas, reducing reliance on external energy sources and a greywater reuse system that repurposes hand washing water for flushing conserving up to 25% of potable water.
🌱 Food Production: Our culinary offerings feature natural, hydroponically grown ingredients sourced directly from the marina’s own farming system, embodying the “farm to table” concept powered by rainwater naturally harvested and additional nutrient-rich soil collected from our integrated food composters.
*The hydroponic system, particularly the wick method, supports rapid plant growth without the need for aerators, pumps, or electricity, ensuring fresh produce like lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries for a truly sustainable dining experience.
💡 Energy Optimisation: Energy optimization is woven into every aspect of the design based on the fundamentals of the four elements.Our open-concept design creates a natural ventilation system leverage the cooling northerly winds to optimize airflow and minimize energy consumption.
☀️ Solar panels are strategically placed along the structure to capture sunlight throughout the day.Our waste collection systems generate both nutrient-rich soil and biogas to power daily operations.
⚡️ An electric boat charger is available on our recreation docks supporting the transition to clean energy for tenders and day cruisers using our facilities.
About The Ocean Edition: 🌊
At The Ocean Edition, we are dedicated to pioneering the future of sustainable coastal cities through supporting visionary development projects, global collaborations, and bringing forward innovation and technology expertise. In addition to sustainable infrastructure projects, our team also supports public and private entities with economic and tourism development initiatives, smart technology integration and sustainable innovation strategies.
Our Mission:
Our mission is to unlock new economic opportunities in emerging regions by fostering innovative architectural designs and regenerative infrastructure, with protecting our Earth’s precious marine environments at the core of all our coastal developments.
Get in Touch:
🌐 Website: www.theoceanedition.com
📱LinkedIn: The Ocean Edition
✉️ Email: rachel@theoceanedition.com