Petite Afrique – Principality of Monaco

The project, by Brazilian Architect Isay Weinfeld, won the competition promoted by Fine Properties Monte Carlo: the brief for competing studios (including the most famous names in international architecture – Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Shigeru Ban Architects, Kengo Kuma Architects, Adjaye Associates and others) was to design a building equipped with the latest technologies, taking account of the surrounding urban context and the proximity of the Casino Gardens, by the name of “Petite Afrique”.

Isay Weinfeld’s building consists of 11 floors above ground, a private swimming pool on the roof and 6 underground levels that host a car park, indoor swimming pool and spa: a minimalist and elegant building that dialogues amiably with the Casino Gardens and the sea of the Côte d’Azur.

The external façade, which blends seamlessly with the Fin de Siècle architecture of the surrounding buildings, features 500 m² of ventilated wall in Bronzite (3 cm thick) up to the third floor; to embellish the perimeter, 2,200 m² of curved Gascogne cladding was laid.

The generously sized flats, one on each floor, are characterised by large terraces with floating floors in Travertino Romano Classico: 1,400 m² of marble, 2 cm thick, laid on honeycomb. Travertino Romano Classico also for the spa and the indoor swimming pool, which are covered in this precious marble.

The indoor spaces are furnished with refined Travertino Navona with recurring vein pattern in the living room, bookmatch Calacatta Oro for the bathroom floors and walls, and approximately 850 m² of reconstituted white quartz for the utility rooms and kitchens.