Monaco has some of Europe’s most outstanding buildings, but who are the Monaco architects behind these iconic structures? Numerous multi-award-winning architects have made their mark on the landscape, all in keeping with the principality’s long-standing commitment to sustainability.
Here’s a look at some of the most popular Monaco architects who have made an indelible impression on Monaco real estate.
Famous Architects in Monaco
Jean-Pierre Lott
Though based in Paris, Lott has two signature projects in Monaco: the wavy-looking Le Stella in La Condamine, one of Monte Carlo’s oldest neighborhoods, and Villa Troglodyte, a private home built as a grotto carved out of the natural bedrock. Both are standouts among Monaco real estate, making him one of the most famed architects in Monaco.
In Le Stella, Lott divided the 16 floors horizontally and vertically into two zones. Clear glass from the base to the second floor envelops a school and office space, while the upper 10 floors are apartments covered by a white strip that forms ribbon-like curves.
The unique grotto design of Villa Troglodyte, with its cave-like entrance, incorporates geothermal and solar energy and collects rainwater. The home is made entirely from recyclable local materials.
Rudy Ricciotti
French architect Ricciotti designed the luxury cliffside development of Jardin L’Exotique Monaco to ensure stunning sea views in natural surroundings.
The landscaping features hanging gardens and tropical foliage, with olive trees and exotic flowering plants, in keeping with the ambiance of the neighboring Jardin Exotique botanical garden.
Ricciotti, known as one of the greatest contemporary Monaco architects, designed the 50 apartments with floor-to-ceiling windows, clean, straight lines, and natural materials, including wood and stone.
Alexandre Giraldi
This Monegasque architect was among the designers and developers of the iconic Odeon Tower, Monaco’s tallest building. The 49-story tower, completed in 2009, houses one of the world’s most expensive penthouses (around US$400 million). The double-skyscraper, which has commanding views over the principality, has 60 apartments and two duplexes in addition to the five-story penthouse.
Another signature property that this Monaco architect collaborated on is the 19-story glass tower at 26 Carré d’Or, one of the prime locations for Monaco real estate.
Michel Desvigne
This renowned French landscape architect, known for garden designs that provide tranquility in urban spaces, is part of the team behind Mareterra, a 6-hectare eco-development with apartments, penthouses, and villas along the reclaimed coastline.
Desvigne brings more of the natural environment to the project, with a flourishing Mediterranean ecosystem, including more than 1,000 trees that will be planted around the development’s open spaces.
Renzo Piano
Piano, the founder of Valode & Pistre Architectes in France, created the design of the “floating” luxury residences of Mareterra Monaco. The residential building will be elevated from the street, allowing pedestrians unobstructed views of the sea, and will feature expansive use of glass.
The winner of the 1998 Pritzker Prize, this Monaco architect has designed some of the most notable buildings in the world over the past 40 years. When the $2.4 billion seaside projects is completed, Mareterra promises to set a new benchmark for super-prime Monaco real estate.
What other famous Monaco architects would you add to our guide?
