A close look at one of the most extreme projects in the world: the principality of Monaco land extension

# Monaco land extension

There is always something interesting going on in Monaco, especially when talking about construction. The people of the city-state are no strangers for workings that take part constantly for the last decade. Let alone the yearly preparations for events such as the Grand Prix.

Lately, the residents are facing a new project, this time as extreme as it gets.
Monaco is extending its surface by reclaiming 6 acres of dried land from the sea.
The project, aka “L’Anse du Portier”, is a super complex initiative that tries to meet the demand of the worlds elite to live in Monaco as much as possible.

The initiative

After the first initiative was taken in 2000, the project was paused in 2009 due to the financial crisis. In 2011 the project came back to life, with the french Bouygues construction company leading the way.

Special preparations took place in early planning in purpose to save the riff of the the area.
After relocating the sea creatures safely, the dehydration phase started.
Simultaneously, the arrival of 18 caissons (giant concrete platforms) from Marseille took place.

Once all the caissons will be balanced on the dried land, the construction phase will start. The process will resemble much Lego buildings, fitting the blocks one on top of the other.
The final result will be a 6 acres of residential land, that will consist also new museums, offices and a theater.

One interesting fact is, of course, the budget of the project which is 2 billion Euros – non of which spent by the principality.
The project is 100% independent in terms of funding of Bouygues, while the principality will make a decent profit out of the activity.

This is not the first time Monaco is claiming land from the sea, as the Fontvieille area is all artificial as well.
The official completion schedule of the project is 2025.

# Monaco land extension