In Monaco, the city’s most spectacular development opened its doors a few months ago: Mareterra. A project that is redesigning the principality’s coastline by perfectly combining eco-responsible design and top-of-the-range housing. But is the project really eco-friendly?
To complete this article, here is a video explaining the Mareterra project and some of the opinions of the people of Monaco :
A small country looking for space
The Principality of Monaco is located in Western Europe, on the shores of the Mediterranean, surrounded by France, between Nice and the Italian border. It is a sovereign state with a prince who governs the country: Prince Albert II. The principality has its own government and parliament. However, it still maintains close ties with France. Monaco has no army, but can count on France for its defence thanks to the 1918 treaty.
The country’s currency is the euro, although Monaco is not a member of the EU. The second-smallest country in the world after the Vatican at just two square kilometres, the country nevertheless boasts some impressive statistics: a GDP per capita of around $234,000, one of the highest in the world, and a population of around 39,000, making it the most densely populated nation.
But faced with this demographic situation, there was only one solution for the principality: to expand onto the Mediterranean Sea. And so the Mareterra project was born.
Located almost in the city centre, this new district offers the principality an additional 6 hectares, increasing its surface area by around 3%. Developed by l’Anse du Portier, the project is estimated to cost over €2 billion. More than 2,300 men and women and nearly 300 companies have been involved in this 10-year project.
An eco-responsible approach
Building Mareterra was a feat of engineering. To complete the project, a 50-metre embankment had to be created. This immense underwater wall is made up of regional rock, imported in astronomical quantities: more than 1.5 million tonnes. A concrete belt of 18 caissons, including cavities and passages, was specially designed to provide a refuge for fish.
Preserving the environment was a priority throughout the project. The seabed was partially cleaned and 500 square metres of seagrass were relocated and replanted nearby. In addition, the materials used for the construction were selected with the environment in mind. The 18 concrete caissons were designed to facilitate the growth of algae.
Finally, most of the infrastructure is powered by renewable energy, including 9,000 square metres of solar panels and heat pumps for heating and cooling.
A district that is both ecological and luxurious
The new district includes a number of prestigious residences, including 11 flats, 10 villas and 4 town houses. Twelve boutiques and restaurants have also been developed. According to Monaco Matin, all the properties have been sold at prices approaching €10 million.
A neighbourhood that runs on sustainable energy: 9,000 m² of solar panels have been installed on the buildings and geothermal heat pumps have been chosen to provide heating and cooling for the residences.
To ensure that the area does not become the exclusive preserve of billionaires, the green spaces have been opened up and made available to the public. Naturally, the design of this new eco-neighbourhood has been conceived to blend in with the Monégasque landscape without detracting from the coastline. However, many residents find themselves with a view over the district, whereas before they could look out over the sea.
With this innovative project, Mareterra offers us a glimpse of the future of sustainable luxury on the Côte d’Azur. And it’s an initiative that seems to be catching on. Surrounded by France on the mainland, the principality is continuing its expansion towards the sea. And with projects as visionary as Mareterra, Monaco’s expansion into the Mediterranean is far from over.
Greenwashing or eco-friendly ?
Although ecological efforts have been made to limit environmental impacts, it would still be wrong to describe this project as eco-responsible. Numerous ecosystems have been displaced to make way for concrete, and the work has been carried out right next to the sea. Claiming that this district is eco-responsible seems to be more of a marketing ploy. When we talk about a truly eco-responsible project, we’re mainly talking about renovation or vertical construction rather than extension onto the sea. Instead, it would be more logical to talk about a project that attempts to limit environmental damage, because obviously, simply extending onto the sea is not eco-responsible.
