foster + partners anchors monaco yacht club in monte carlo

the foster + partners designed yacht club de monaco has opened in monte carlo, forming the centerpiece of the principality’s remodeled harbor. positioned directly adjacent to the water’s edge, the structure provides new social and sporting facilities that reflect the region’s status as a leading center for boating excellence. the complex is entered through a glazed courtyard, before arriving at the first floor which comprises an exclusive club room, bar restaurant and swimming pool. above, a double-height function space is complimented with executive offices and a series of ‘cabins’ for visiting guests. the uppermost floors accommodate a range of event spaces, while throughout the scheme a series of stepped terraces offer expansive views out to sea, as well as inland over the formula 1 grand prix circuit.

the project forms the centerpiece of the principality’s remodeled harbor
image by nigel young | all images courtesy of foster + partners

in order to offer guests and members uninterrupted race views, the fully glazed elevations can be opened up. external observation decks are shaded by retractable fabric screens, supported by masts and booms that continue the nautical theme. built on reclaimed land, the club provides for a range of craft – from sailing boats to 25-60 meter superyachts.

the structure provides the region with new social and sporting facilities
image by nigel young

shops and public spaces at ground level assert the project as a community destination, while a landscaped rooftop park is bound on one side by the club’s restaurant terrace. the building is powered by renewable energy, with photovoltaic cells, solar thermal panels and sea water cooling systems designed to take advantage of the waterside location.

the first floor comprises an exclusive club room, bar restaurant and swimming pool
image by nigel young

‘the building is a little like a city in microcosm, with schools, parks, offices, restaurants, a network of interior circulation ‘streets’ and a hierarchy of public and private, social and functional spaces. it is a continuation of monaco’s dense urban fabric, as well as the yacht club’s traditions and will be an important part of civic life. every child in monaco learns sailing at some stage during their education and those lessons will be in the new building – as a result, the yacht club will become even more rooted, in a public sense, in the principality and part of its cultural and urban fabric’, explained lord foster.

a double-height space is complimented with a series of cabins for visiting guests
image by nigel young

‘with all of our projects, our approach to sustainability is to maximize the natural advantages of the local climate, while mitigating its extremes. we have also used locally sourced or recycled materials. our starting point for the yacht club was extensive analysis of the climate and the way that the different spaces are used. photovoltaic cells and solar thermal panels convert monaco’s sunshine to energy, while the sea water is used for cooling and the facades can open completely to allow natural ventilation. to provide shade in the summer, there are sail-like canopies – a reference to the nautical traditions that monaco is famous for’, furthered nigel dancey, senior partner at foster + partners.

a spiraling staircase connects the scheme
image by nigel young