Discover Mareterra, Monaco’s Newest Neighborhood

The South of France is populated with a substantial list of must-visit cultural stops—Eileen Gray’s iconic E-1027 villa, Fondation Maeght, Fondation CAB, the Venet Foundation, and even the elusive, appointment-only Villa Navarra Le Muy, the Riviera outpost of Galerie Enrico Navarra. Yet the region’s art and architecture circuit just keeps expanding.

December 2024 marked a dazzling new chapter for Monaco with the grand opening of Mareterra, the principality’s—and the world’s—most ambitious and expensive real estate project to date. Unveiled with fireworks, concerts, and a futuristic drone show, this $2.3 billion eco-district is Monaco’s bold answer to the perennial challenge of space—a 15-acre extension reclaimed from the Mediterranean, increasing the world’s second smallest country by three percent.

The project brings together an impressive roster of architectural talent. Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Valode & Pistre Architects, and landscape architect Michel Desvigne collaborated to create what officials describe as a “pedestrian paradise” designed as a true neighborhood rather than merely a luxury enclave. There are approximately 110 apartments with pricing around $11,000 per square foot. Additionally, there are four townhouses and 10 private villas that have been built by the likes of Tadao Ando and Galerie Creative Mind Norman Foster. These exclusive residences are rumored to command prices around $200 million each.

The district’s gently curved coastline and lushly planted parklands are complemented by a scenic waterfront promenade, a boutique marina, underground parking, and a curated mix of residential, retail, and cultural spaces. Approximately 50 percent of Mareterra is dedicated to public parks and leisure, inviting locals and visitors alike to stroll, linger, and soak up the Mediterranean sun.

Sustainability is at the heart of Mareterra’s design. Marine biologists, divers, and engineers worked in tandem to protect native marine life, while cutting-edge eco-initiatives—artificial reefs, solar panels, rainwater irrigation, renewable energy, green roofs, and a pine forest—underscore Monaco’s commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050. Apparently even the curvy, undulated outline of the promenade was determined by the currents. The result is a seamless blend of luxury and environmental stewardship, a district that feels both futuristic and rooted in its coastal setting.

Art as Sanctuary

Mareterra’s public spaces are punctuated by striking art installations. The standout is Drops of the Sun, a permanent work by Vietnamese artist Tia-Thuy Nguyen. This meditative sanctuary uses natural light, over four tons of quartz, and a suspended pink glass prism to create a radiant, ever-changing atmosphere—a space designed for quiet reflection, meditation, and a renewed connection with nature.

Nearby, Alexander Calder’s monumental Quatre Lances, originally acquired by Prince Rainier and Princess Grace, now anchors the district’s artistic landscape.

A Seamless Riviera Escape

Mareterra’s location is unbeatable: steps from the newly expanded Grimaldi Forum and Monaco’s serene Japanese Garden, itself recently enhanced in honor of it’s 30th anniversary with the addition of a traditional pagoda. After a morning exploring Mareterra’s waterfront and contemporary art, visitors can sample the mouthwatering cuisine at one of the new restaurants already open on the marina such as Marlow, which serves a tantalizing assortment of British dishes.

Also luring jetsetters to the region is the Maybourne Riviera. This glamorous retreat high in the hills features epic views, spacious rooms, and a newly added outpost of famed London spa Surrenne along with Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s abc kitchens riviera and the waterfront La Môme Riviera beach club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin—perfect for a leisurely lunch with a Côte d’Azur view.

In a region celebrated for its artistic heritage and architectural innovation, Mareterra is Monaco’s definitive new address—a visionary district where the Mediterranean’s timeless beauty meets the future of sustainable luxury.