Day: 18 August 2024

The Yacht Club de Monaco, designed by the eminent British architect Lord Norman Foster, first opened its doors back in June 2014, and was a marvel of beauty, elegance and sustainable construction techniques. Now, a decade later, has the iconic building stood the test of time? 

The Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) was, from the start, a special place. Designed by Lord Norman Foster, known for his modernist glass and steel structures, the hi-tech edifice fashioned in the shape of an ocean liner was created to impress. 

With 5,000m2 of interior space and 4,000m2 of outdoor terraces, the 204-metre-long Yacht Club was destined to be a focal point of the Principality due to its immense size alone, but it was the way it was made that particularly stood out. 

FOSTER’S PLAN

Foster was a pioneer in sustainable design – a concept we throw casually about today but was still in its infancy in 2014. He built the YCM on a philosophy, one that challenged conventional practices by making efforts to seamlessly integrate the building with its surroundings as well to use renewable energies and practices to make it energy efficient. 

The mild Mediterranean climate certainly helped make his job easier. Solar panels, sea water based heating and cooling systems and clever facades to make natural ventilation a snap were incorporated into the design, as was the use of local materials when possible to keep the overall carbon footprint down. 

SOCIAL ASPECT

The YCM was certainly purpose-built to accommodate the maritime and yachting world, but it also was intended to be a social hub for the Principality. 

“The building is a little like a city in microcosm,” said Lord Foster back in 2014, “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.”

Indeed, it has become just such a focal point, and is host to events and functions year-round, including the obvious boat-related fare, like sailing regattas and the Monaco Yacht Show, but also symposiums, conferences, cocktail events and as a sought-after place to view the Monaco Grand Prix each May. 

As Bernard d’Alessandri said in an interview with Monaco Life in February of this year, “This 10th anniversary of the new clubhouse is significant, as we wanted to reflect the international ambitions of the Principality… But the YCM also has a public service mission to promote as a yachting destination.”

ANOTHER ANNIVERSARY!

Lest we forget YCM was part of the Monegasque landscape long before its most current form. This year marks a milestone for the club for another reason – the 40^th anniversary of Prince Albert II at the helm as President. To celebrate, the Yacht Club de Monaco has published a beautiful coffee table book, simply entitled Yacht Club de Monaco, loaded with gorgeous photos, anecdotes and stories from author Jill Bobrow and a foreword from the Prince himself. This collector’s edition costs €105 and be found here https://eu.assouline.com/products/yacht-club-de-monaco?country=FR 

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Photo Credit: YCM / Foster + Partners/Carlo Borgenghi

It is nearly 80 years since the Liberation of Monaco by Allied troops on 3rd September 1944, and the Principality is set to commemorate this landmark moment in its history with the full honours, pageantry and ceremony befitting such a momentous occasion.  

Monaco was occupied by Axis powers between 1942. Initially controlled by Italian forces, German troops later took over the Principality following Italy’s surrender in September 1943.

The Germans retreated almost a year to the day after they had entered Monaco, departing under the threat of the incoming Allied forces who had landed in the south of France on 15th August 1944 under the command of United States Army Major General Robert Frederick.  

The Liberation of Monaco is thus commemorated each year on 3rd September, and with 2024 representing the 80th anniversary of this major event, Prince Albert II of Monaco has sought to mark the occasion with an extra special ceremony. 

See more: Prince Albert II joins Emmanuel Macron and King Charles III at D-Day commemorations

According to a statement by the Monaco Government, “The Sovereign Prince has wished for this anniversary to have special significance this year, as in other affected countries, by particularly highlighting the decisive contribution of the American army.” 

As such, a special tribute will be paid to US General Frederick in the form of a ceremony and the issuing of a souvenir stamp.  

Prince Albert is expected to make a speech at the ceremony, which will be held in front of the war memorial commemorating 20th century conflicts in the Monaco Cemetery at 5pm on 3rd September, in the presence of servicemen from Monaco, France and the US.  

General Frederick’s grandson, Bradford Hicks, has also been personally invited to Monaco to participate in the event.  

Read more: Photos: Prince Albert II commemorates 80th anniversary of Normandy’s D-Day landings

At 6pm, after the laying of a wreath at the Conseil National, notably by the commemorative plaque that honours Monegasque Resistance fighter René Borghini and his liaison officer, Esther Poggio, who were executed on 15th August 1944, Prince Albert will inaugurate an exhibition called ‘Monaco Liberated! 3rd September to 28th December 1944’ in the main hall of the Ministry of State.  

The exhibition has been collectively organised by the Mission for the Prefiguration of the National Archives, the Archives of the Princely Palace and the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco in collaboration with the Médiathèque de Monaco. It will be open to the public until 31st January 2025.  

Throughout the day, the Commemoration Committee will be hosting an array of WWII-related events in the streets of the Principality, such as a military vehicle parade that will depart Avenue Saint-Laurent for the Palais Princier via the Maison de France and Lycée Albert Ier. The timings of the parade are yet to be confirmed. 

Monaco’s memories of WWII extend beyond the borders of the Principality, and it has been revealed that the Monegasque State has made financial contributions to the installation of a new bronze statue commemorating the site of the Airborne Task Force’s landing in La Motte in the Var. The state was unveiled on 14th August.  

Read related:

Heritage sites in Monaco that are well worth a visit

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

Photo source: Monaco Communications Department