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3- Le Simona: the revival of verticality tunnel had to be cut through and special
“Le Simona embodies the revival of verticality techniques had to be used. All this for just 28
in the Principality, where high-rise building flats. One every two floors. Each apartment
had stopped for several years. It has a is a ‘‘vertical house’’ averaging 250 m², with
very original shape, an iconic architecture its own swimming pool, a vast 90 m² veranda,
that is highly expressive. The tower is each with a private lift on each landing and
almost at odds with its surroundings, as a service entrance. To avoid the repetition
it is so exuberant. It is in itself a UFO. Built of floors, the is deliberately split in two, and
at the beginning of Prince Albert’s reign, the apparent absence of windows adds to
it symbolises the architectural revival the sculptural effect”.
embodied by Norman Foster’s Yacht Club”,
analyses Jean-Philippe Hugron, who believes
that “Le Simona transgresses ‘‘traditional’’
architecture and ‘Belle Époque’ parodies to
finally propel Monaco into the fantasy era it
has craved for several decades. Jean-Pierre
Lott succeeded in placing his two meshed
rockets on the landscape! 88 metres of
concrete! “The location wasn’t easy, however.
The building plot, on the edge of the Parc
Princesse Antoinette, has a steep slope of
around 20 metres. As a result, access to the
tower starts from the 7 floor. And building
th
the foundations was not an easy task: a

© Jean-Philippe Hugron

4- One Monte Carlo: the designer of the Georges levels - into ‘‘pavilions’’ of
great heritage debate Pompidou Centre, ‘created varying heights, from 6 to
“This building, of great a pedestrian street at 12 storeys. ‘‘In Monaco,
architectural quality, raised the heart of the square the landscape is changing
the question of preserving linking the neighbouring at breakneck speed. It’s
Monaco’s heritage. As an Hôtel de Paris to La Petite true that there has been
architectural historian, if Afrique park. By making the some obvious destruction
you had asked me whether site denser, Rogers Stirk of h e r i ta g e, b u t this
the Sporting d’hiver should Harbour & Partners (RSHP) legacy has been replaced
be kept, I would have succeeded in freeing by quality constructions,
immediately said yes. But up 30% of the ground so we can’t necessarily
Monaco has a tradition surface. To counteract the talk about vandalism and
of modernity. Destroying impression of bulk, the firm mindless destruction to
in order to rebuild is deliberately divided the create something ugly or
one of the Principality’s complex - comprising 40 low quality. In the United
notable characteristics and shops (around 6,000 m²), States, many city centres,
identity”, says Jean-Philippe 48 luxury rental residences notably Detroit, have been
Hugron, who believes that (around 20,000 m²), 5,000 demolished to make way for
the monumental building m² of offices, 3,000 m² car parks... This is absurdity
designed by architect of conference space, an taken to the extreme’’,
© Jean-Philippe Hugron made way for an “urban gallery, and 300 private One Monte-Carlo project
concludes the expert. The
exhibition hall, an art
Charles Letrosne has
cost 250 million euros.
and public parking spaces
district”. The British firm
led by Richard Rogers, co-
spread over 7 basement
25