The urban restyling of the Principality is in full swing and have no intention of stopping in order to create new concept public areas to enjoy in complete safety and comfort by the sea. On Friday, the 3rd May 2019, at the Ministry of the State, H.E. Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, Minister for Public Works, Environment and Urban Development and H.E. Jean Castellini, Minister of Finance and Economy, announced a new eco-revolutionary renovation of the most popular Larvotto Beach, in the presence of a distinguished delegation and international press.
That consists of combined on-site actions. On the sea front, the protection of the beaches will be improved by a series of wave breakers on the entrances of seawalls using Geotube technologies to prevent impacts on the grasslands of Posidonia oceanica populating the Larvotto marine reservoir. On the land front, the project includes an increasingly attractive and modern-style commercial and leisure areas on two levels: ‘Promenade haute’ close to Avenue Princesse Grace and ‘Promenade basse’.
With the view to giving more usable space, both walkways will be redesigned by the renowned landscape architect Michel Desvigne and the internationally known architect Renzo Piano, in charge of the connected rising district Anse du Portier, beside the Grimaldi Forum and the Japanese Garden. Thus, the new architectural site will enable the setting up of a place-to-eat & buy on the lower boardwalk directly accessible from the beach, opening all year long, thanks to indoor rooms.
Shaded areas, tree islands, a play garden for children and a 1-kilometre long cycling path will be created on the upper Promenade being part of a 15,000-square meter public use area with special attention to environmental high-level targets. Any corner of Larvotto will contribute to a specific energy efficiency plan aimed at making the whole district almost self-sufficient.
A low consumption street lighting will accompany the placement of new electric terminals for charging e-bikes. The water and waste management will be improved while the seaside ‘resort’ will profit from power generation through a system of futuristic photovoltaic pergolas, able to cover the 80% of annual consumption of energy to light up the promenade, the gardens and the cycling lane at night, properly. An innovative thalasso-thermal heating system, along the lines of Grimaldi Forum’s, will guarantee optimum climate control for all business activities including bathing establishments in accordance with the Monegasque Energy Transition government programme.
Furthermore, escalators and elevators will facilitate to all users, disabled people included, the accessibility from the upper to the lower promenade and to reach parking zone. Therefore, it will help the existing social services like Handiplage-Audioplage, a summer adapted-tourism complimentary service supported by Direction de l’Action et de l’Aide Sociales and the International Soroptimist Club of Monaco. An internal targeted path will serve logistics thanks to an electric train system to simplify the delivery of goods.
Public works will start in October 2019 leading to the shutdown of all shops and food points which will be refunded for the loss of their commercial activities, as well as the beaches until June 2020, in prior accordance with all stakeholders involved in the decision-making, as stated by the Gourvernement Princier.
Then, after a reopening in July and August 2020 for the Summer Season, works will be continued from September 2020 until June 2021 when the shoreline will be unveiled. Closing time for the whole restyling is planned at the beginning of 2022. So, nothing will be left to chance while redesigning Larvotto including acoustic solutions to minimize the noise. It is not surprising that the project outcome, still in progress in view of the tendering procedure for some assets and financial prospects, is the result of a cooperation among Direction des Travaux Publics, Administration des Domaines, Direction de l’Aménagement Urbain and SAM L’Anse du Portier.
Last but not least, the artistic side will be taken into consideration by restoring the existing 1970’s Fontaine de Lartigue, a tribute to Princess Grace and preserving all pieces of art (around 12) that are embellishing the promenade, jointly with the department of Fine Arts.
Everything sounds like a unique opportunity which rethinks the Monegasque lifestyle by improving also its standard of comfort. Stay tuned to discover more about the following steps of new Larvotto Beach!
