June 20, 2014, in the glamorous Mediterranean yacht charter destination – Monaco, was marked by the official opening of the new Yacht Club de Monaco building. Designed by British architect Lord Norman Foster, renowned for his hi-tech environmentally friendly approach, the new building resembles a sailing yacht, and is sited below the Casino de Monte Carlo and above the F1 Grand Prix circuit.
New Yacht Club de Monaco Building
Monaco yacht charter destination is renowned as the sun drenched playground of the rich and famous on the French Riviera, headed by a 700-yearold Royal dynasty, mainly financed by an elegant casino and home to a superyacht marina brimming with billions of dollars of the best yachts money can buy.
At Monaco’s hub is the Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM), traditionally presided over by the head of state, in this case for 30 years by the accomplished sailor Prince Albert II, who succeeded his late father Prince Rainier with ambitions to morph Monaco into the world’s premier yachting destination. Part of that plan was a world class yacht club to turn Monaco into this self proclaimed “Capital of Yachting.”
New Yacht Club de Monaco Building
So, on 20 June, 2014 Prince Albert presided over the opening of YCM’s stunning new building, a gleaming 200 m long, five storied, 1300 high society member (66 nationalities) showcase.
Designed to evoke a ship moored in the (also new) marina, YCM is a living monument to contemporary chic and design. The main designers are British (Lord Foster) and French, Jacque Grange, who designed much of the interior, albeit with Italy’s Fendi Casa providing many of the furnishings. Jacques Grange clients include Yves Saint-Laurent and HRH Princess Caroline of Hanover.
New Yacht Club de Monaco - Bar
Design meets classicism.
The lounge, living areas and reception rooms feature the Fendi Casa contemporary collection with Soho and Metropolitan sofas, Serengeti tables with matching Blixen chairs and small Colombus tables. White outdoor furniture for the terrace and pool is from the Fendi outdoor collection.
Prince Albert’s spacious office features a rectangular Margutta sycamore and ebony table imbedded with a stylized Fendi logo. Matching Ripetta chairs contribute to an atmosphere of sheer elegant, fit, yes, for a Prince.
At the heart of the interior is a monumental spiral staircase with links to all parts of the building. The flag bedecked atrium has views across Monte Carlo harbor to the former YCM and the Prince’s Palace of Monaco. Lord Foster’s emphasis on the environment is visible everywhere. YCM’s large windows and deck like terraces allow unrivalled views of the many major sailing races now attracted to Monaco.
New Yacht Club de Monaco Premises
Behind the scenes the building is powered by renewable energy and incorporates photovoltaic cells, solar thermal panels and sea water cooling systems to take advantage of Monaco’s year round sun and waterfront site. LED light, state of the art systems to manage energy, waste and water use and points to recharge electric cars are all included in the design.
Below the club is the new YCM Marina, capable of accommodating everything from small sailing boats to 26 births for 25-60 metre super yachts. YCM’s historic sailing school is inside the club. The marina is alive with busy Riva Aquarama runabouts and other larger motor and sailing yachts of various sizes.
One reason for such activity is the huge number of yacht races now attracted to Monaco by its facilities and promotion as a yachting centre of excellence. For example, in July 2014 the Solar 1 Monte-Carlo Cup, the first solar powered completion in the open Mediterranean Sea is to be held. Another is the Classic Yachting 15M IR Challenge, held at the time of the opening, of four beautifully preserved 15M Class wooden sailing yachts. The Venture Cup powerboat race pays homage to the 1972 London to Monaco endurance powerboat race over 2750 nautical miles. It is unique in sporting history. One of the winners was, appropriately, a Riva Super Aquarama boat.
New Monaco Yacht Club
Riva’s 172-year history is inextricably intertwined with Monaco’s yachting centuries of sailing narrative. Riva’s largest agency, run by Lia Riva, great, great granddaughter of the founder Pietro Riva and daughter of 92-year-old Carlo Riva, creator of the most famous Riva, the Aquarama; sits next to the former YCM site.
The only lounge named in the building is the Riva Aquarama Lounge, in homage to the mahogany topped runabouts made famous by royalty and celebrities such as Brigitte Bardot, Sophia Loren, Peter Sellers, Richard Burton and Aristotle Onassis, amongst many.
Today Riva owners are much more discrete, but there still many of them and a good proportion belong to YCM. The cost of the building was met by the principality and membership fees are carefully kept secret.
New Yacht Club de Monaco Building - Staircase
Whatever the cost to Monaco and the 1600 members (300 on the waiting list) YCM is a pleasing architectural addition to the principality’s famously crowded, cluttered landscape overlooking the possibly world’s most famous luxury yacht marina.
