The Principality of Monaco is one of Europe’s smallest nations, and indeed 20% of the country has been reclaimed from the sea. A new reclamation project is under way at Portier Cove, to develop a new eco district for Monaco, involving such architects as Renzo Piano.
Marie-Pierre Gramaglia from Monaco’s Ministry of Public Works, The Environment and Urban Development, told Euronews that this is part of the Principality of Monaco’s urban strategy, which centres on adapting the country’s development of the small size of its territory.
She added it has three strands: developing programmes on land reserves, rebuilding the city over the city by demolishing ageing buildings of no heritage value, and extending the country into the sea – which has a total surface area of two square kilometres; around 20%, or 40 hectares, have been reclaimed from the sea over a period of more than 150 years.
Gramaglia said that construction of this new extension is being done in a way that complies with very demanding environmental specifications in terms of measures to protect the natural environment.
An eco-friendly approach has been adopted with regards to the design of civil engineering works in order to promote colonisation of species. Finally, an environmental monitoring committee made up of scientists and experts has been established to improve efforts to limit impact and enact environmental offsets.
She added that regarding transport, the project will be a significant driver for the promotion of soft mobility: the new district will be given over to pedestrians, it will have an electric bike station, and a one kilometre stretch of cycle path will be created.
As for the initiatives that Monaco is adopting to become a more environmentally friendly country, Gramaglia said that they are focusing their action in four areas: preserving biodiversity, conserving resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pursuing a policy that promotes a sustainable city.
More via Euronews
