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Day: 10 October 2022

The best international school designs for Ventimiglia revealed

by: Cassandra Tanti
10/10/2022

Four design proposals for the future international school, Borgo del Forte Campus, in Ventimiglia have been selected, with the final project forming a major aspect of the new urban redevelopment project that is transforming Ventimiglia.

On 23rd September, the Marina Development Corporation (MDC), an urban redevelopment company, examined the design proposals of four Italian architectural firms for the construction of the Borgo del Forte Campus in the Campasso di Nervia area in Ventimiglia.

The Borgo del Forte Campus will be situated in the former Campasso railway yard, near the mouth of the Nervia river.

The Borgo del Forte Campus is designed to fit strategically into the overall plan to relaunch the city of Ventimiglia through the new high-end development project, Marina di Ventimiglia, and the Borgo del Forte aspect that is planned for the rear port of the city.

The Borgo del Forte Campus will cover a total of 42,000 square metres and include a sports centre with indoor swimming pool that can be used all year round, a fully equipped gym, changing rooms, services and a dedicated club house, as well as a multifunctional area for indoor/outdoor activities and some tennis courts, all open to the public.

International school design by MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects

A multi-level building will be built next to the sports centre to house the international school – the heart of the Campus. To the south, the 1,600 square metre former railway depot building will be renovated and used as a conference centre with conference room, exhibition/fair area, and offices, all overlooking a large green park.

Finally, the former guesthouse will be renovated and used as an accommodation facility for athletes, students and teachers, and the third existing building will be equipped for reception services, offices and cafeteria. The Campus will also be able to take advantage of over 3,000 square meters of parking.

The following four Italian architectural firms were chosen for their designs: Atelier Alfonso Femia, MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects, One Works and Lombardini22 studios. By the end of the year, the design projects will be presented to the international school operator currently being selected by MDC for the management of the Campus.

Sports centre design by MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects

“It is a great pleasure to have received today in Ventimiglia four of the best architectural firms in Italy who presented their design proposals for Borgo del Forte Campus, all of great value and responding to the requests made during the tender,” said MDC CEO Giuseppe Noto. “This confirms the relevance and quality of the Marina di Ventimiglia urban regeneration project, which we have been carrying out with local and regional administrations for almost two years, for the relaunch of western Liguria through a new hotel, residential and educational-sporting offer.”

Borgo del Forte Campus is an integral part of Marina di Ventimiglia, the large urban regeneration project presented in April last year by MDC, aimed at creating a new tourist destination on the seafront of the western Ligurian city and breathing new life to the Italian Riviera.

Project design by MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects

Marina di Ventimiglia will be developed on a total area of ​​57,000 square metres, with an investment of over €200 million, and it includes several ambitious projects, the main one being Borgo del Forte. It forms part of ​​Marina San Giuseppe which is located behind the port of Cala del Forte, inaugurated last summer and owned by the Port of Monaco. Here will be built a five-star hotel with 25 suite rooms, as well as gym, wellness centre, restaurant, and 130 apartments for sale, all equipped with large terraces. The intention is to create a community that is active and lively all year round.

Other main developments include the construction of a panoramic restaurant called La Rocca, which is close to being built, and Club Italia, transforming the former ACI building into a food and beverage centre of excellence.

 

Click on the images below…

 

 

 

 

 

Hôtel Metropole Monte-Carlo remains a favourite

by: Cassandra Tanti
10/10/2022

The Hôtel Metropole Monte-Carlo has again claimed a spot in the top 10 hotels in France, ranking seventh overall in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards.

It is the sixth consecutive year that the Hôtel Metropole Monte-Carlo has made the top 10 in France, and the first and only hotel in Monaco, in the prestigious ranking.

“We are very proud of the renewed recognition of the readers of Condé Nast Traveler,” said Serge Ethuin, Managing Director. “This prestigious award is the result of the daily dedication of our collaborators to offer the highest level of hospitality to our guests who are increasingly looking for a tailor-made experience. They want to find exceptional locations and a genuine customer experience based on real human relationships. At the Hôtel Metropole Monte-Carlo, we are keen to offer this type of emotion, we know our guests personally and this explains why we have so many returned guests”.

The hotel is in the middle of an ambitious renovation that is transforming both the seen and unseen aspects of this Monegasque palace, built in 1886.

More than 240,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers submitted responses rating their travel experiences across the globe to provide a full snapshot of the top places they enjoyed this year and can’t wait to return to next. The Readers’ Choice Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry.

The Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat was ranked 8th, and the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo 13th. The full list of winners can be found here.

 

SEE ALSO:

THE ‘BLOSSOMING’ METROPOLE HOTEL

THE STORY BEHIND THE CLOSURE OF THE HÔTEL MÉTROPOLE

 

Photo above by Monaco Life

 

 

 

Eileen Gray villa restoration earns EU Heritage Prize

by: Stephanie Horsman
10/10/2022

A €6 million project by Cap Moderne to return the famous Eileen Gray villa, E-1027 in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, to its former glory has been awarded the European Heritage Prize in Prague.

A marvel of the modern movement in the late 1920s, Villa E-1027, conceived and built by Irish architect Eileen Gray, put Roquebrune-Cap-Martin on the map. It’s clean lines and minimalist design were ground breaking and paved the way for many other similar houses in the region.

Sadly, after decades of environmental stress and general neglect, the house was not in the best shape, prompting the association Cap Moderne to take charge of the site and restore this jewel to its former glory.

The project, funded by the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region’s Department of Cultural Affairs, the Conservatoire du Littoral and the Getty Foundation USA, has not only restored the house, but has turned it into a museum dedicated to Eileen Gray’s architectural skills, as well as to her talents as a furniture designer. The house boasts upward of 180 pieces made by Gray during her years living there.

At a total cost of more than €6 million, the finished project will be run by France’s National Monuments Centre alongside the Eileen Gray-Etoile de Mer-Le Courbusier Association, presided over by Magda Rebutato.

The extensive renovations included structural repairs using a technique that prevents corrosion of the reinforced concrete exteriors and the use of craftsmen from six different countries who repaired damaged furniture and fittings manually to retain authenticity.

On 26th September, Heritage Architect Claudia Devaux accepted the European Heritage Prize awarded for the project in Prague.

“Villa E-1027 is an iconic building of modernist architecture. It’s complete restoration, including advanced systems to avoid corrosion, is exemplary for the future preservation of modernist architecture, a type of architecture that is too often pushed for demolition. It’s laudable restoration rightfully pays homage to Eileen Gray, an important modernist architect and furniture designer,” said the Award’s Jury.

 

 

Photo about credit: Manuel Bougot

 

 

 

Prince receives warm welcome in Italian town of Monteverde

by: Stephanie Horsman
10/10/2022

As part of his official tour of southern Italy, Prince Albert II has stopped in at the tiny village of Monteverde, a Grimaldi Historic Site of Monaco, much to the delight of residents.

Monteverde, Italy, is a small town of just 460 residents in the Avellino region. It was therefore a momentous occasion when, on 4th October, Prince Albert II came to visit.

The Prince was not there by chance, though. This well-planned trip included a meeting with Monteverde Mayor Antonio Vella, and the unveiling of the village as the latest in the network of Grimaldi Historic Sites of Monaco, with a sign being revealed at the entry to the town.

In addition to launching the new status, the Sovereign did a bit of sightseeing, visiting the Castello Baronale (Principi Grimaldi), built in the 9th century by the Lombards, which was the seat of the princely stronghold.

Photo source: Axel Bastello, Prince’s Palace

As a tribute to the ties the two places share, the local orchestra performed the Italian and Monegasque anthems, followed by an a cappella version of a verse of Monaco’s anthem.
Prince Albert then revealed a commemorative plaque alongside Paola Spena, the prefect of Avellino,Vincenzo De Luca, president of the Campania region, and the mayor. Inside, the Prince and his delegation were able to view the remains of a fresco with an ancestral coat of arms still visible.

Afterwards, the Prince had a meet-and-greet with the townspeople, who had come out in large numbers to mark the occasion. The stay was concluded with a lunch offered by the municipality giving the Princely retinue a chance to sample local fare.

 

 

Photo credit: Axel Bastello, Prince’s Palace

 

 

 

 

Professional Monaco continue winning run in Montpellier

by: Luke Entwistle
10/10/2022

AS Monaco came out comfortable 2-0 victors against Montpellier on Sunday, stretching the club’s Ligue 1 winning run to five games and further closing the gap between the league leaders. 

Monaco’s fifth consecutive Ligue 1 victory and sixth victory in seven games in all competitions, confirms the Principality side’s positive momentum. Not only that, but it also brings them to within three points of the podium, and only six points off league leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite the quick run of matches, Monaco lined up almost unchanged for the fixture, with Maghnes Akliouche for Krépin Diatta the only difference from Thursday’s starting 11.

However, if there was any fatigue it certainly didn’t show. Whilst Monaco struggled to create clear-cut opportunities in the first half, they showed an impressive level of defensive solidity, against a side that always looks dangerous on the break.

Philippe Clement’s side, like their opponents, looked most dangerous in the transitions, with Breel Embolo central to much of Monaco’s attacking threat. The teams looked set to head back to the dressing rooms level, but as Wissam Ben Yedder controlled a cross, Embolo steamed in to smash home the opener.

The second half largely reassembled the first. Monaco were solid, and conceded just a single shot on target. However, they struggled to kill the game off. Embolo’s replacement, Myron Boadu was a bright spark when he came on, and his clever touch played in Ben Yedder, who couldn’t beat the goalkeeper when 1-v-1.

Failing in his attempts to play the role of the provider, he turned scorer late on. Caio Henrique’s pass across goal was met by Boadu, whose poke at the near post beat the goalkeeper. That goal killed off the game, and the match finished 2-0.

Clement’s comments

Despite bemoaning the quick turnaround between the tie against Trabzonspor on Thursday, and Sunday’s tie at La Masson,  in both the pre-match and post-match press conferences, Clement was full of praise for his side.

“I am very happy to win this match. The victory is deserved. My players were disciplined and well set up. There were also good things with the ball. We were lacking a bit of freshness up front but with the run of matches, that’s norma,” he said.

Man of the match – Breel Embolo

The Swiss striker dominated both of Montpellier’s centre-backs from the first minute until his substitution in the 73rd minute. He attracted fouls, including a yellow card for Maxime Estève in just the 11th minute, linked-up Monaco’s attacks, and was decisively clinical in front of goal.

Embolo’s beginnings surpassed many people’s expectations. In 15 appearances in all competitions, he now has five goals and four assists. But his influence isn’t purely numerical, his intelligence and strength get the best out of those around him, and that was the case again on Sunday.

He, like strike partner Ben Yedder is becoming quickly undroppable. Boadu’s brief cameo further bolsters Clement’s attacking arsenal ahead of Thursday’s trip to face Turkish champions Trabzonspor, where there will almost certainly be a degree of rotation to this winning side.

 


Photo by AS Monaco

 

 

 

Roca Team’s winning start continues

by: Luke Entwistle
10/10/2022

Despite a fourth-quarter collapse, AS Monaco Basketball stretched their winning start to the season to five games in all competitions after victory against Gravelines-Dunkerque (95-85).

The Roca Team quickly found their stride in Sunday’s Betclic Elite tie at the Salle Gaston Médecin. Having begun their Euroleague campaign with a win against Virtus Bologna less than 48 hours before, they quickly re-applied themselves to the French championship.

Boasting a more complete squad this season, Monaco seemingly won’t be dogged by the same issues that juggling European and domestic basketball posed them last season. Leading by example, Adrien Moerman (5) was pivotal in giving the Roca Team the ideal start as they went 13-3 up in the opening minute.

Sasa Obradovic’s perfect first-quarter was concluded in spectacular style by Elie Okobo, whose on-the-buzzer shot from halfway landed, lifting the home crowd off their seats (30-15).

Monaco were relentless, and continued to apply pressure in the second-quarter. The Roca Team’s youthful duo of Yoan Makoundou (13) and Matthew Strazel (19) combined well, finding each other within the key, and keeping the scoreboard ticking. Strazel in particular was phenomenal on the night, contributing more points than any other player on the court, and registering four assists.

By half-time, the result was never in doubt, and they were certain to continue their winning run to the season and maintain their place at the top of the Betclic Elite table. The lead was stretched further in the third-quarter, before a fourth-quarter collapse (20-33) gave Obradovic’s side a minor scare.

Ultimately, however, Monaco got the job done early, and some late-game complacency wasn’t enough to undo that work (95-85).

Post-match, Obradovic praised the club’s squad depth but was clearly unhappy with the way that they finished the game. “The victory is important because we’re playing a lot of matches. The players that didn’t play against Bologna, like Strazel and Makoundou played very well.”

He continued, “We started well with a lot of desire, but you have to respect the match until the end. It lasts 40 minutes, and you can’t let up. That will act as a lesson for the future.”

Monaco next face Anadolu Efes in the Euroleague on Thursday, as the new-look Salle Gaston Médecin prepares to host the return of European basketball to the Principality.

 

 

Photo by AS Monaco Basket