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Extension en mer

Marretera, Monaco

year of completion

2025

client

SAM Anse du Portier

design team

Valode & Pistre Architecte, Michel Desvigne (Paysagiste), JML (Fontainerie), Renzo Piano Building Workshop Architecte, Alexandre Giraldi Architecte, Somibat, Setec

images credit

The site of Monaco is exceptional. Here, light dances with the green of the gardens and the deep blue of the Mediterranean, creating a unique palette. For over 150 years, the principality has mastered its confined territory, nestled between mountains and sea—to turn it into a bold model of urbanism, where every square meter is a feat of ingenuity. The new Mareterra district embodies this mastery: it stretches like a natural extension of the coastline, from the Grimaldi Forum to the mythical tunnel of the Formula 1 Grand Prix. This is a space where architecture embraces the curves of the landscape with such fluidity that the artificial feels entirely natural.

Valode & Pistre, responsible for the master plan, the architectural design of the infrastructure, and public amenities, has succeeded in creating a space that blends seamlessly into its surroundings. The creation of the hill is a godsend for a fountain designer: water winds and zigzags through Mediterranean gardens, flowing through channels inspired by ancient irrigation systems, reviving a hydraulic tradition.

At the base of the "Renzo" building, the water feature reflects the architecture designed by RPBW, which appears to float above the water, creating a perfect harmony between the built environment and its surroundings. At the iconic vanishing point, the basin’s freshwater merges seamlessly with the saltwater of the Mediterranean, producing a striking and symbolic image.

Discover our projects

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Bordeaux, France

2006

Le Miroir d’eau, Place de la Bourse

Vichy, France

2025 / 2026

Parc des Sources

Perth, Australia

2016

BHP Billiton Water Park

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