In the fall of 2017, a unique site in Europe was inaugurated on the Plateau d'Arbois. “TheCamp” brings together students, experts, startups, and major international companies with the goal of imagining the city of tomorrow and the future in general.
It was originally the brainchild of Frédéric Chevalier, an entrepreneur from Aix who wanted to create a campus dedicated to digital technology. Before his death in a motorcycle accident, this visionary fifty-something had TheCamp built.
Located among the pine trees of the Arbois plateau south of Aix-en-Provence, the campus will bring together startups, executives, business leaders, and high-level students.
The idea is that everyone will learn from each other to design the city of tomorrow. “Anyone can come if they want to,” explains Antoine Meunier, head of communications.
“We want pioneers, people capable of creating a more humane, more sustainable future.”
Corinne Vezzoni is the Marseille-based architect behind this international high-tech campus.
The new site is made of glass, wood, and concrete, with an emphasis on sustainable development. Here, there are no paper cups, only reusable plastic cups, and no alcohol, only flavored drinks.
“This space is inspired by American campuses, but also by accelerators and fablabs. A futuristic hub in the heart of an exceptional natural environment, you can live and sleep there for a few days or a few months, experiment with new ways of eating, working, and prototyping, participate in events, or create new connections through numerous activities.”
Numerous private and public partners participated in the financing: The camp: Accenture, AccorHotels, Air France, Cisco, CMA CGM, Crédit Agricole and Crédit Agricole Alpes-Provence, MAIF, VYV Group, SNCF Gares & Connexions, La Poste, RATP, Sodexo, Steelcase, VINCI Construction, VINCI Energies; Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region, Bouches-du-Rhône Department, Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis, CCI Marseille-Provence.
Thecamp
550 Rue Denis Papin,
13100 Aix-en-Provence
Tel.: +33 (0)4 13 91 20 00
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