Delegation of representatives from Government and National Council pays visit to new A Fighera building (formerly Villa Carmelha)

© Government Communication Department / Manuel Vitali

The delivery of buildings as part of the National Housing Plan for Monegasques continues.

On 12 November 2024, representatives from the Prince’s Government and the National Council* visited the Villa Carmelha state-owned housing project, now known as A Fighera (meaning ‘fig tree’ in Monegasque) to reflect the extensive integration of wood as part of the structure and core of this project, which is innovative in so many ways.

The building is a technical feat unlike any previously seen in the Principality, in terms of both the construction technique and its future operation.

It was built without cranes using the Canadian Upbrella technology, a first for Europe.

The process involves constructing a kind of sarcophagus above the work site, which is raised gradually as the building progresses, storey by storey, to shelter workers from bad weather as they work and protect locals from noise, visual impact and dust.

The building truly embodies eco-friendly construction, and the project was awarded BD2M® gold-level certification for:
-        its bioclimatic approach;
-        its efforts to recover and re-use materials following demolition of the existing structure, with involvement of a specialist company;
-        the use of low-carbon concrete for the substructure;
-        the widespread use of wood throughout the superstructure (post-and-beam support structure, non-load bearing facades, floors, lift shafts and stairways and loggias) to reduce its carbon footprint.

In terms of energy, the building is powered by renewable energy thanks to its connection to the SEAWERGIE network and the installation of thermal and photovoltaic solar panels on the roof.

In addition, the inclusion of a fuel cell means that any occasional surplus electricity generated by the panels can be stored in the form of hydrogen. This will then be converted back into electricity for use by the common areas of the building.

The building has 25 homes, including 14 one-bedroom apartments, 4 two-bedroom apartments and 7 three-bedroom apartments.

The delegation had the opportunity to view the spaces and volumes offered by these homes, both inside and out on the terraces, and to appreciate the quality of the materials used.

The successful applicants for these homes were also able to visit the building during September, and the vast majority accepted the apartments. They will be able to move in very soon, which will conclude the round of allocations approved at the Commission meeting on 13 February 2024. At this meeting, 75% of applications were granted, including those on waiting lists, and 254 apartments were allocated, thanks to the Tour Réséda upward extension project, Résidence Héméra Block C, A Fighera and renovated apartments.

Applications received following the call issued last September, which has now closed, are currently being reviewed by the Government and will be discussed at an Allocation Commission meeting scheduled for late February 2025. 

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* On behalf of the Prince’s Government, the delegation comprised H.E. Mr Didier Guillaume, Minister of State; Céline Caron-Dagioni, Minister of Public Works, the Environment and Urban Development; Elodie Kheng, Chief of Staff to the Minister of State; Séverine Canis-Froidefond, General Director of the Ministry of Finance and Economy; Adrien Le Bret, Director of Public Works; Aurélie Peri, Director of the State Property Authority; Sylvie Rossi, Director of the Housing Department; Florence Larini and Sébastien Corbon, Technical Advisors at the Minister of Public Works, the Environment and Urban Development; Sandro Ponziani, Site Manager for the Department of Public Works.

* On behalf of the National Council, the delegation comprised Maryse Battaglia, President of the Housing Committee; Corinne Bertani, Finance and National Economy Committee; Marie-Noëlle Gibelli, Vice-President of the Culture and Heritage Committee; Karen Aliprendi, Vice-President for Mobility on the Environment and Quality of Life Committee.

* Representatives of companies who helped to enable the construction of this building were also in attendance: Gabriel Viora, Monegasque DPLG (French government-qualified) architect and engineer with a degree from ESTP; Wilfrid Bellecour, French architect from the firm Bellecour; Jean-François Rhiel, CEO of Entreprise Monégasque de Couverture; Fabien Deplanche, President of Probat Monaco.