The New Monaco Yacht Club by Sir Norman Foster

Stairway to heaven or perhaps simply a stairway in the new Monaco Yacht Club.  This is slowly rising on the opposite side of Port Hercule to the present yacht club.

Designed by Sir Norman Foster you can see how it will eventually look by clicking on the link.

The new Yacht Club of Monaco

Here's a look at what will be Monaco's new yacht club.  Yes, the red rimmed structure in the foreground looks like a yacht, doesn't it?  Indeed it has been designed to be as 'slender as the liners which used to cruise between England and America in the early 20th century.' The architect is Lord Norman Foster.

The new Yacht Club de Monaco is on the opposite side of the port to the current yacht club.  Building work will be completed by the end of 2013, with a grand opening planned at the traditional summer cocktail for YCM members in 2014.

The Yacht Club of Monaco rises ...

The new Yacht Club of Monaco is getting nearer and nearer to completion. As you can see it's beginning to look like a yacht iself. It's due to be finished at the end of this year with a grand opening in summer 2014.  You can see another photo by clicking on the link. The design is by Lord Norman Foster.

The Monte Carlo Country Club

Today, a different viewpoint. We are looking down on the Monte Carlo Country Club from a vantage point on the road above - actually in France. (Photo taken in September)

Just beyond the tennis courts, and facing out to sea, are the terraces and restaurant of the Country Club. That's where I took yesterday's photograph.

The building you see with three towers - out on the promontory - is the opulent Monte Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort which opened in late 2005.

Interestingly, there was a multi-billion dollar project to reclaim an enormous area of land from the sea, thereby increasing the size of the Principality. Only a few weeks ago, Prince Albert announced, because of the recession, it wouldn't be happening. The choice of design had already been reduced to two well-known architects - Sir Norman Foster and David Liebeskind. Monaco is only 2 square kilometres in size and it would have increased this by 20% with a beautifully shaped peninsula jutting out to sea in front of Larvotto Beach, which is just beyond the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel. Click on the link to read the full story.

For an update on Mama Mia and Mistral please click on Postcards from 'Pension Milou.'

Monaco Yacht Club - the Dining Room

This is the dining room of the Monaco Yacht Club.  You have to be a member to dine here or you need to be invited by a member. 

Soon though the Monaco Yacht Club oves to its new building on the opposite side of the port - designed by Sir Norman Foster, no less.  Work in progress can be seen HERE.

The new Yacht Club de Monaco

The new Monaco Yacht Club, designed by Lord Norman Foster, looks not far from being finished.

Here is an artist's impression of how it will eventually look.  The new Yacht Club de Monaco is due to open this summer. 

The NEW Monaco Yacht Club

The new Monaco Yacht Club is finally open.  Looks like a cruise liner, doesn't it?  It had its grand opening on the 20th June with 3,000 guests including the Princely family of course. 

It was designed by the studios of leading British architect, Lord Norman Foster, in collaboration with Monaco-born architect, Alexandre Giraldi, and is the new headquarters for the Monaco Yacht Club (YCM).

It was a grey day when I took this photo, but a few days ago, I went there for lunch and the sun shone!  Next time we'll explore the building...