It's a place that attracts visitors by hundreds of thousands
and never stops innovating. A state where innovative real estate projects
costing billions of euros are being undertaken, the most spectacular
of which is due to open in a few months time. This Titanic project is located
not in the Middle East, but in the Principality of Monaco,
which borders France. Nicknamed the Rock, Monaco is a veritable confetti
in geographical terms, surrounded by France. The country is located just 20km east of nice and a stone's throw from the Italian border. Monaco's surface area is just two square
kilometers. This makes it the second smallest country
in the world, behind the Vatican, with its 0.44km². By way of comparison,
the city of Paris itself covers 105km². Yet with over 39,000 residents,
Monaco is one of the most densely populated countries in the world
and space is in short supply. To keep expanding, a horizon was quickly found the Mediterranean Sea,
where artificial development projects are multiplying
and the latest is surely the most impressive. Called Mareterra, this new extension has been under construction
since 2015. It required a huge financial outlay and the involvement of the world's
leading architects. Although the project is intended
to be ecologically responsible, it has been criticized by many for turning the area
into a new Paradise for the rich. Today, looking for
takes you to the Rock to discover one of Europe's largest construction sites. Monaco's core identity is luxury, from the Casino of Monte Carlo to the Formula
one Grand Prix. Prestigious events abound in this state
that became a constitution. Monarchy in 1911,
thanks in large part to an attractive tax regime. The Rock has the largest concentration
of millionaires and billionaires in the world. But behind the impressive villas, sports cars and yachts lie other realities. In particular that of an area that for over
a century has been multiplying projects to expand onto the Mediterranean Sea. Since 1907, innovative operations have been stepped up to reclaim land from the sea,
sometimes involving the creation of entire districts
such as Fontvieille Between 1966 and 1973. In all, these operations have resulted
in the reclamation of more than 50 hectares, an immense figure representing 25% of the total surface area of the city. This percentage places Monaco among those states
considered to be the champions of land. Artificial ization on the sea
alongside Singapore in Southeast Asia, for example. In almost 50 years, the city state has gained more than 147km² of new land artificially created on the sea. This represents almost 25% of its territory, but in a different register, but still with a view
to gaining ground against the sea. The European champion is the Netherlands, a country that has based part of its survival in the face of rising waters on a global strategy based on polders. Without this countrywide system, almost two thirds of the Netherlands
would be flooded today, a feat of engineering that must be constantly rethought
in the face of rising waters. If you're interested in the subject, I've included
my dedicated video in the description. But let's go back to Monaco,
where the conquest of the sea has been at a standstill for the past 20 years. Indeed, the last project
to see the light of day dates back to 2002. This was a 3.7 hectare semi floating
breakwater to protect Port Hercule Monaco's harbor. In 2005, Albert
the Second officially became Prince of Monaco following the death of his father
Prince Rainier the Third. And it was only ten years later that
the first major project under his reign took shape. It was Made of terror, a name
combining two elements intended to be complementary sea and land. This future new district of Monaco is located
almost in the center of the city. It is set between Port Hercule and Larvotto Beach as a backdrop. Future residents of the new district
will be able to contemplate Monaco's immense convention center, the Grimaldi Forum. The Grimaldi Forum will be extended by 6000m²,
which will be located on marinara. To understand the scale of this project,
we need to look at the figures for a moment. Begun in 2015. The project will save the Principality
six hectares. The cost of the operation €2 billion. According to the invoice announced
by the Monegasque development company l'Anse du Portier. The construction site is running at full speed,
mobilizing every day 2300 people and nearly 300 companies,
including Bouyges and Eiffage. a colossal undertaking with
a pronounced commitment to ecological construction. As channel subscribers
know, many projects claim to be eco responsible. In reality,
most of them are more about greening the image of a construction site
than the reality on the ground. But in Monaco, the ecological aspect
seems to have been well taken into account. A case in point is the six hectare marine area
that has been filled in with over 50m of fill,
enabling the buildings to be constructed. Prior to this undertaking,
the seabed was cleaned to some extent. The seagrass is essential
to the mediterranean's underwater biodiversity. The Posidonia, which are found in abundance in
this area, were removed and replanted in the surrounding area. The new space has also been designed
in a curved shape. This shape is no coincidence since it was designed to follow the direction of a sea current
that runs alongside the principality. The materials used in the construction are also in the same vein of low
environmental cost. The wave breaking concrete caissons were designed
to facilitate the growth of algae. They are placed on a giant embankment. The embankment lies between 20 and 50m beneath the sea and is almost 500m long. This immense wall under the sea is made up of local rock, brought in in astronomical quantities, and then precisely deposited on the seabed
by a specialized boat. It was only after construction
that the 18 huge reinforced concrete caissons were towed by boat to the site. Manufactured in Marseille. Each is 27m high and weighs 10,000 tonnes. The giants were then ballasted and weighted down with quarry materials
to take their place on the giant embankment. They are positioned to centimeter accuracy, with ships and divers making the final adjustments. The complete belt of caissons enclosing the future district was completed in July 2019. This build also includes cells and paths specifically designed to provide refuge for fish. Once the case on belt had been laid,
construction work began on the embankment. The method used in Monaco consists
of adding quarry material to the platform. This material is then distributed
by means of an earthmoving operation, to ensure that the new buildings planned
for the Maritime District can be accommodated. Once built, 40% of the site
will be planted with nearly 800 trees and most of the infrastructure
will use renewable energies such as solar power. Last but not least, the project sponsors state that 50% of rainwater will be reused. This new seaward extension also takes into account the risk of flooding due to rising sea levels. The builders have therefore
taken precautionary measures. The lowest levels, the second basements,
are two meters above sea level. The first living areas are seven meters above sea level, well above the recommendations
for the real estate sector. According to last year, this new islet is better protected
from the risk of flooding than 99% of the surrounding coastline. Extreme protection for exceptional buildings. Luxury homes designed by the world's leading
architects will be built on these six hectares for a total of 130 apartments, ten villas
and four townhouses are due to be delivered at the end of a project overseen
by Parisian architects Valode and Pistre. They are also responsible
for the construction of four apartment blocks and ten single family homes. Renzo Piano,
one of the world's leading architects and creator of the Center Pompidou in Paris,
has also contributed to the project. He designed a residence
for the site, dubbed the Renzo. This 18 storey building features apartments, a seawater swimming pool,
the Piscine Princess Charlene, and a series of special installations
that, according to the project owners, evoke the sensations of the Mediterranean. Another presence of the architect on the site
will be the immense white air vents
scattered across the six hectare site, also visible in the vicinity of the Center Pompidou, a sort of continuity for the man who had already signed his participation
in the renovation of the Larotto district. According to Le Figaro, three
other major architects are also on board. The first is Japanese
architect Tadao Ando, whose work includes the recent renovation of the Paris books, the Camus two house Francois Pinos Art Foundation. He designed two of the ten villas to be built. Another will be the work of superstar
Norman Foster, whose previous designs include the Millau Viaduct
and London's 30 Saint Mary X skyscraper. Finally, Stefano Boeri, creator of Milan's vertical forests
and green buildings, will also be on hand to design a villa. A lineup of architectural heavyweights that makes these creations difficult to afford, especially as Monaco is not renowned for its cheap
real estate. Quite the opposite, in fact, the principality holds
the record for the most expensive price per square meter in the world,
with an average of €50,000 per square meter. With some prices soaring to over €120,000, this compares with an average of €11,000
in Paris for married terror. No sales price has been revealed. However,
the smallest units will be at least 300m² in size and villas will exceed 2000m². Privileged properties that must easily approach
tens of millions of euros. A financial cap
that hasn't stopped potential buyers as almost all the properties
have already been sold, according to Monaco. My ten not wishing to build a ghetto for the rich. The monetary team emphasizes
the many public spaces on the site accessible to all, with numerous green areas coordinated by landscape architect Michel Desvignes. The main focus is on the pine forest
and the valley, a vast park set into the hillside, intended as a green oasis in a very mineral city. The promenade du prince Jacques, named
after the principality's crown prince, who is now nine years old, will also become a landmark
in this 500 meter public promenade will take over from the existing Larvotto Promenade,
creating a new space connected to the Mediterranean Sea. An architectural Kokiri
and a real attraction in the making, the promenade will include a public access
under the slab to watch the local flora and fauna take their marks on the concrete caissons
laid down as wave breakers. The promenade will lead to Le Petit Portier, a 15 slip Marina for boats up to 16m in length, located at the foot of the Le Renzo residence. The Marina will be bordered to the north
by a high square featuring four refreshing basins known as plus Gabriella. Gabriella is Prince Jacques twin sister. The square has been designed
as one of the main gateways to the new area, which will be largely pedestrianized in addition
to housing and public spaces. The site will offer
some 4000m² of new retail space. The last piece of information to remember
about this special project is its delivery date. While delivery times often tend to get longer. The terror program is also playing the singularity
card. In fact,
the site is scheduled for completion in November 2024, eight months ahead of schedule. And it's with this astonishing fact
that we conclude our tour of Monaco. I hope you enjoyed it,
so please let me know in the comments. And if you liked this video, don't hesitate
to subscribe to the channel. It helps me a lot. Thank you all and see you soon on looking 4.
