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Monet in Full Light: Grimaldi Forum exhibit to feature a never-before-seen piece

by: Stephanie Horsman
19/04/2023
monet grimaldi forum

This summer’s big exhibition at the Grimaldi Forum will showcase Monet’s work like you’ve never seen it before.  

For even casual admirers of French impressionist Claude Monet, the Grimaldi Forum’s summer exhibit will be a can’t-miss event. Roughly 100 of his paintings gathered from all over the world in a 3,000-metre space is already a once in a lifetime experience, but add in the fact that one of the works will be on display for the first time ever, and it’s bound to be a sure-fire hit.  

Running from 8th July to 3rd September, the exhibit coincides with the 140th anniversary of Monet’s first visit to Monaco and the French Riviera, and will follow the path of his career and life during his years in the region.  

MASTERPIECES ON DISPLAY 

The collection will include several of his masterpieces that have rarely been show together at other retrospectives. They will be a displayed in an interesting way, blending timelines and themes; curator and art historian Marianne Mathieu is aiming to give visitors a clearer picture and deeper insight into Monet’s artistic path through his work.  

“Monet’s work is very coherent. From his youth in Le Havre to the last paintings in Giverny, the painter does not try to paint a motif, but rather a moment; Monet does not paint a landscape, but an atmosphere,” Matthieu said of the artist in Bon Vivant Magazine. “On the Riviera, between 1883 and 1888, this means maturity; Monet discovers himself as the painter of the series.” 

MONACO AND THE RIVIERA 

It was during his time on the Riviera with fellow impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir that he became obsessed with the now-famous light of the region. His old palette, better suited to the north where he lived, was thrown out the window in favour of the softer colours of his paintings of this period are known for.  

SOURCED FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD 

The paintings displayed will come from several sources, with nearly half being on loan from the Musée Marmottan Monet. Others will come from private collections, including that of the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, as well as major international institutions such as the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Columbus Museum of Art, the Denver Art Museum, the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, the Saint Louis Art Museum, the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid, the Museum Barberini in Potsdam, the Von der Heydt-Museum in Wuppertal and the Fondation Beyeler in Basel. 

Pre-sale tickets are only €7 if purchased before 30th June. The price thereafter is €14. For more information and to book, please click here. 

 

Do you have an event in Monaco or the French Riviera that you would like us to include in our What’s On section and events calendar? Please email editor@monacolife.net.  

 

Photo: Villas at Bordighera, 1884, Oil on canvas, 61×74 cm – Hasso Plattner Collection

“Move-in ready”: three futuristic new builds in Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
18/04/2023
monaco new builds

Monaco Life takes a closer look at the recently-completed building projects in the Principality that feature an elaborate mix of eco-consciousness and architectural style and are move-in ready right now.  

In the past few years, a new crop of housing options has moved into the Monaco landscape, due mainly in response to a growing demand in this incredibly desirable locale.  

Completed in 2019, the elegant façade and prime views of Casino Square, the Mediterranean and even the Palais Princier have made One Monte-Carlo a much sought-after address since doors were first flung wide.  

The seven-building complex has 37 apartments that range from two rooms to six-room triplexes, replete with private pools and rooftop terraces. The apartments come unfurnished, giving residents a chance to put their own marks on their homes, but they do have fully fitted kitchens, dressing rooms and bathrooms, all finished to the obvious high standards.  

One Monte-Carlo, photo by Monaco Life

There is also a 24-hour valet service, secure parking and a concierge, who can book sessions at the nearby Thermes-Marins spa or Hôtel de Paris fitness centre, where access is part of the residency deal. Occupants can also take advantage of the hotel’s services, such as housekeeping and room service for an extra fee.  

One Monte-Carlo’s modern take on Art Deco architecture is the work of Sir Richard Rogers, the creator of Paris’ Pompidou Centre, and Alexandre Giraldi, the designer of Monaco’s Tour Odéon. In their creation, glass rules the day, allowing natural light to flood the spaces from morning until evening. Retractable façades make indoor-outdoor living a reality, whilst also maximising views.  

monaco new builds
Boutiques, restaurants and the iconic Casino Square are just a lift ride away for One Monte-Carlo residents. Photo credit: RSHP

The development also has an eco-edge. The shade from the balconies and the close proximity of the residential pavilions help to keep the sun from blaring in, and efficient systems and controls are used to reduce consumption levels while still offering individual user control. Renewable resources were also used to meet the project’s requirements, such as the photovoltaic panels integrated into the roof landscape of the office building. 

To sweeten the pot, the bottom floor is home to boutique shops, conference facilities, galleries and amazing restaurants, making a shopping trip as simple as pressing the button to the lift.  

Le Stella from Monaco developers Pastor & Fils and architect Jean-Pierre Lott. Photo credit: Pastor & Fils Immobilier

Funky, fluid and fun, Le Stella (pictured above) came onto the scene in 2018 as a whimsical architectural confection created by architect Jean-Pierre Lott.  

Rising up in the historic La Condamine district of the Principality, it’s a mixed-use residential building featuring 99 apartments, two villas, shops and office spaces. It’s also the home of the International University of Monaco. 

The majority of the units are duplexes, each with its own imprinted style. Second floor bedrooms keep privacy up and noise from the lower levels down, and the terrace loggias keep living spaces comfortable. For super-luxe, the private villas also come with their own saunas, garden patios and private cinemas. Amenities such as fitness rooms, a concierge and 24/7 security enhance the overall appeal of this futuristic building.   

 

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A post shared by MoNa RESIDENCE (@mona_residence)

As the first housing complex in Europe to qualify as excellent by BREEAM, the world’s leading science-based suite of validation and certification systems for sustainable built environments, MoNa (above) is a dream for those looking for luxury within the eco-conscious realm.  

Designed by the Michel Pastor Group, the exclusive 22-storey and 66-apartment building was created as a model in energy self-sufficiency. It welcomed its first residents in September 2021, but a number of apartments are still available.

Some of the features that made it so environmentally outstanding include geothermal heating and cooling systems: that is, the energy given off by the planet. A series of probes reaching 250 metres in depth supply this energy via heat pumps and a system of ‘active slabs’ placed below the floors, which diffuse heat and cool effectively year-round at little cost. Further geothermal technology, in conjunction with the 42 solar panels on the roof, take care of hot water needs.  

The curvaceous exterior design is not only eye-pleasing, but also acts as a sun shield of sorts, limiting the effects of the direct summer sun and therefore lessening the need for air conditioning. Each flat is also fitted with technology that tracks consumption, allowing tenants and owners to adjust and moderate usage.  

 

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A post shared by MoNa RESIDENCE (@mona_residence)

Finally, the building is equipped with a clever waste sorting system, including a dehydrator for food waste that not only eliminates smell, but turns it into compost in eight hours or less.  

No luxury aspect was skimped on to create the MoNa. Indeed, architects Jean-Michel Wilmotte and Rainier Boisson constructed the building so each floor had exceptional sea views, top shelf natural material finishes, like stone and wood, and a contemporary design, giving residents clean-looking spaces as well as clean energy.  

 

READ MORE:

Monaco Real Estate: The private new builds that are changing Monaco’s landscape

 

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Main photo by Jannis Lucas for Unsplash

Australian estate agent in custody for wife’s suspected attempted murder in La Turbie

by: Elsa Carpenter
18/04/2023

A mother-of-two is in a coma and her husband, believed to be an Australian real estate agent working in Monaco, is accused of her attempted murder, according to Monaco Matin. 

Early reports by Monaco-Matin say that the incident occurred at the family home in La Turbie on Wednesday 12th April.  

The husband, believed to be an Australian native aged in his 30s, is reportedly working as an estate agent in the Principality and has yet to be officially named by police, although the local newspaper has identified him as Damien C.

According to Monaco-Matin, the man called police to his home following the incident. An investigation has now been opened into “intentional violence committed against a spouse” as well as the charge of “attempted murder”.  

The victim is reportedly a 33-year-old woman of Russian descent named Anna. She remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Her two children have been placed with family.

The accused has already served time in prison

Monaco-Matin reports that the accused has previously served time in prison following a money laundering conviction. At the time of the alleged attack, the offender was still subject to court supervision. The news outlet also reports that he went before a judge on Thursday 13th April.   

 

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Photo source: Remy Hellequin for Unsplash

Saint George’s Day dinner and celebrations in Monaco

by: Elsa Carpenter
18/04/2023
saint george monaco

The British Association of Monaco is getting warmed up for the Coronation of King Charles with a patriotic evening commemorating Saint George later this month. 

The BAM is extending an invitation to members and non-members of the association alike to join in with celebrations of Saint George’s Day, Monaco-style, on Monday 24th April.  

The gourmet evening at Caffé Milano on Port Hercule will begin at 7.30pm and be punctuated with a delicious dinner before a quiz on Shakespeare – did you know that it’s his birthday the day before? – and saints.  

The event costs €75 for members and €80 for non-members.  

For more information, please click here. 

 

Do you have an event in Monaco or the French Riviera that you would like us to include in our What’s On section and events calendar? Please email editor@monacolife.net.   

 

Photo source: Caffé Milano / Facebook

Football: AS Monaco joins the fight to protect the oceans

by: Luke Entwistle
18/04/2023
as monaco ocean

AS Monaco joined the fight to protect the world’s oceans on Monday, signing a convention with the Oceanographic Institute to help amplify a collective environmentalist message. 

Just beyond Monaco’s stadium of the Louis II lies the Mediterranean Sea, but it was within the Monaco’s Oceanographic Museum that the club took sure steps to ensure its preservation.

Youth as a vehicle for awareness

“The essential objective [of this convention] is to raise awareness. It’s to make our youth aware of our oceans’ fragility, to ensure that they understand, learn and act,” said AS Monaco Director General Ben Lambrecht.

Prior to the signing of the convention, members of the club’s prestigious La Diagonale Academy took a tour of the historic museum to learn more about the threats faced by the world’s waters. Amongst them was Malick Sylla, who described the tour as “a beautiful exploration outside the world of football”.

Photo by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

However, the idea isn’t just that Monaco’s youngsters learn about the threats, but that they also become vehicles of a message to help protect the oceans from over-exploitation and pollution, a fact maturely evoked by Sylla.

“It is important, as our idols do, to transmit these values around the protection of the oceans to those that don’t have the chance to come,” he said.

Robert Calcagno, Director General of the Oceanographic Institute, added, “When I say ‘protect the ocean’ it’s my job, but when it’s one of these young players, there will be thousands, tomorrow perhaps millions, of people that will hear them.”

Calcagno acknowledged the work done by governments and scientists in recent years, which have manifested in a series of multilateral international agreements, but said that the partnership signed between Monaco and the Institute, described by Lambrecht as a “logical” one in view of the geographical location of the Principality, is a step towards amplifying the message to a different audience.

Photo of Ben Lambrecht and Robert Calcagno by Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

“Through this partnership, we wish to integrate into our approach all the elements of the club, and act as a sounding board in order to make our supporters, and the largest possible number of people, aware of the importance of protecting the oceans and their biodiversity,” Lambrecht told Monaco Life. “It’s something for which we must all take responsibility. As an emblematic football club, we have a responsibility.”

Kylian Mbappé, a special visitor at the Monaco Oceanographic Museum

A famed graduate of Monaco’s Academy paid a visit to Oceanographic Museum just days earlier. France captain Kylian Mbappé, who now plays for Ligue 1 rivals Paris Saint-Germain, has used his reach to address socio-cultural issues, and whilst outspoken on numerous topics, he also donates all of his bonuses from the national team to charity.

Calcagno recounted his interaction with Mbappé, whom he described as “a good, calm, open and curious person, who already had an awareness of the oceans, and its key principles”.

The director added, “I told myself that his passage at Monaco has certainly played a role.”

Education is at the heart of Monaco’s academy, with the focus at La Diagonale being on creating rounded individuals as well as great footballers. Through the signing of Monday’s convention, it is hoped that these “future leaders” will mobilise the wider public in protecting the oceans.

 

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Photo by AS Monaco

 

Christie’s to auction multi-million Heidi Horten jewellery collection for charity

by: Stephanie Horsman
18/04/2023
heidi horten christie's

In an event “poised to eclipse the Elizabeth Taylor Collection”, Christie’s auction house will be auctioning off the late Heidi Horten’s impressive $150 million jewellery collection this coming May. All proceeds will go to charity. 

With a pre-sale estimate exceeding $150 million (€138 million), the World of Heidi Horten collection is beyond incredible, with standout pieces including the 90-carat Briolette of India necklace created by Harry Winston and sold by Cartier in 1909, and a 25-carat Cartier pigeon-blood Burmese ruby ring called The Sunrise Ruby (pictured above), which will be sold for an estimated $15 to $20 million.  

“The World of Heidi Horten is the collection of a lifetime,” says Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s International Head of Jewellery. “From Bulgari to Van Cleef & Arpels, from a small personal memory piece to the Briolette of India, this is a collector’s dream. Building from extraordinary early pieces she acquired in the 1970s and 1980s, Mrs Horten continued to grow and curate her sophisticated collection, eloquently combining vintage and modern designs from the leading jewellery houses of the world that today represent some of the finest examples ever to come to market.” 

The online section of the auction will take place between 3rd and 15th May while The World of Heidi Horten: Magnificent Jewels auction will happen on 10th May. In all, 700 timeless pieces will be up for grabs.  

LEGACY LIVES ON 

Austrian-born Horten was the widow of businessman Helmut Horten, the owner of the fourth largest chain of department stores in Germany, Horten AG. After his death in 1987, Mrs Horten inherited billions and went on to become a serious art collector, amassing over 500 works, including Picassos, Warhols, Basquiats and Chagalls.  

She also turned her hand to philanthropic causes in the fields of medical research, sports and social welfare. The proceeds from the auction will benefit The Heidi Horten Foundation, which is the posthumous umbrella to carry on her charitable legacy. 

 

Do you have an event in Monaco or the French Riviera that you would like us to include in our What’s On section and events calendar? Please email editor@monacolife.net.   

 

Photo credit: Christie’s