L' Obelisque du Port | First Place, Lars-Lerup Award 2026

Studio Stefan Worbes + Stefan Reich / Porte d'Europe

„to span the seas, one must first pierce the sky“

Approaching the 120m span of Marseille's port. „The Port Obelisk“ is a rejection to Marseille's static horizon. It acts as a mechanical needle, stitching the sea to the clouds, transforming a momentary crossing into a permanent landmark in Marseille.

Marseille deserves a kinetic steel obelisk, a monument to the city's past and it's ever growing industrial future.

When closed, it is a bridge; when opened, a beacon. Aligning with the typology of masts, lighthouses, boats and the sea that have defined this harbor for 2,600 years.

„thus creating a machine for the port & a monument for Marseille“

the rack and pinion movement logic

Movement is controlled via a custom rack and pinion assembly. This creates a rolling pivot point, allowing the structure to translate horizontally while rotating vertically - optimizing the center of gravity throughout the lift.

deriving form from context

The Obelisk is an assembly of local narratives. The design acts as a repository of the site's memory by sampling the visual language of the Vieux Port - historic masts, modern mesh and ancient stone -the architecture creates a dialogue between the city's past and future.