François Crémieux is Director General of Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), one of the largest university hospital trusts in France. A leading figure in the world of healthcare and actively involved with the journal Esprit, he is a strong institutional voice in defence of public hospitals and their democratic and social role in reducing inequalities and serving the Marseille area. He talks about his career, the challenges facing hospitals in the years ahead, the ambitions of AP-HM’s ‘Cap sur 2030’ project and his expectations of healthcare architecture.