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 40th 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