UBS Monaco’s New Headquarters: A Historical Collaboration with Jean Nouvel
UBS Monaco is known for providing unparalleled wealth management services, thought leadership and financial services to its clients. Now it’s ready to offer them in a new and improved headquarters building based on Jean Nouvel’s original design.
UBS has been supporting its clients in Monaco for over 60 years, bringing its first-class customer care, expertise and experience to the Principality. The company offers personalised financial advice, investment solutions and the best wealth management tools to its clients, helping them to solve the simplest to the most complex needs. It also offers services to financial intermediaries with one of the best-structured platforms in Monaco and direct access to leading investment opportunities worldwide.
UBS Monaco plays a vital role in the Principality’s cultural and sport life. It is a key partner of the Automobile Club of Monaco, especially for prestigious events like the Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Monaco Historic Grand Prix. The bank also works closely with the Yacht Club of Monaco through flagship events, such as: the Primo Cup – UBS Trophy, an internationally renowned regatta that starts off the Mediterranean yachting season. UBS has also co-founded the Superyacht Eco Association (SEA) Index, an innovative initiative that aims to promote sustainability in the maritime sector. The index evaluates the environmental footprint of superyachts, encouraging their owners and builders to adopt more eco-friendly practices.
The bank also focuses on preserving the Pelagos Sanctuary, aiming to protect marine biodiversity in the Mediterranean. The bank has also started The UBS Optimus Foundation, an organisation that contributes to the care and education of disadvantaged children, as well as to protecting the environment through its various charity projects.
Beyond that, UBS is deeply committed to supporting contemporary art and artists on a global scale. The UBS Art Collection is one of the largest corporate collections in the world and consists of more than 30,000 artworks by some of the world’s most influential artists. UBS also collaborates with major art institutions, supports events and art fairs, such as: Art Basel. It also publishes The Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report in partnership with this most important event.
The bank’s impressive headquarters building, Villa Belgica, has undergone several changes over its long history. Every modification and addition to the building has always reflected its owners’ lifestyles and the concerns of every generation that passed through its corridors. The building has been the bank’s headquarters since 1998 and now it’s stepping into a new era with a new and improved design from Ateliers Jean Nouvel.
The first historical mention of Villa Belgica shows that it was acquired by Alfred Bouvier, the official Belgian representative in Monaco in 1925/1926 and renamed in honour of his country. The early 1930s saw an initial elevation take place, preserving the original dome and balustrade. Between 1956 and 1959, Monegasque architect, Julien Medicin, had a second elevation of the building done, which changed the original appearance of it and removed its dome and changed its original proportions. Now in 2024, Villa Belgica is stepping into a new stage in its history under the guidance of the renowned architect, Jean Nouvel.
The new building was officially opened by Prince Albert II of Monaco in an inauguration ceremony on the 4th of November. The bank’s new headquarters completely re-invent the client experience. Its location in the heart of Monaco allows it to offer first-class banking services and superior facilities, thus redefining the standards of private banking. Moving the offices to the centre of the Principality will also improve access for clients and turn the building into a privileged place for meetings and exchanges. Its top three floors now include an unprecedented concept of dining and living, offering an unparalleled experience in Monaco. The new building truly reflects its international stature and meets the high standards of its clientele.
The renowned French architect, Jean Nouvel has succeeded in preserving the building’s historical essence and incorporating new and modern elements into it. ”The small early 20th-century building, the headquarters of UBS in Monaco, was raised a few decades later. It exudes a pleasant Monegasque nostalgia and that respectable and reassuring sense of comfort that characterizes small bourgeois hotels,” explained the architect, emphasising the importance of preserving the building’s historical character while adapting to its modern needs.
For Nouvel, it wasn’t simply about adding to the height of the building, but rather about elevating its structure. He created an almost symbolically “monolithic and monochrome” architecture, with subtle variations between opaque, matte and translucent surfaces. This approach harmonises the past and the present and avoids an impression of forced elevation. “The architecture created will express the differences linked to usage and lived histories. Thus, one will find the engraved traces of the destroyed elevation or the expression by the constructed limit of the terrace’s awning, the translation of the cornice preserved from the original building, or even the reuse of the bow-windows from the past century,” explained Jean Nouvel.
The new building’s design also takes functionality into consideration. Its interiors are bathed in light and its central staircases naturally separate work areas. The layout of the offices and the rooftop were entrusted to Bel Œeil, a key company in interior design, with showrooms in Nice, Cannes and Monaco. Their approach is centred on sharing and openness, which can be seen in the rounded shapes and noble materials, such as: precious woods and leathers that are used in their creations. They’ve also crafted several custom-made pieces, adding a unique touch to the overall design. In partnership with prestigious brands like A&B Living and Walter Knoll, the company created a refined space, with its every detail designed to offer a perfect environment for confidential meetings with customers and wealth managers.
The upper floors of the new building offer an exceptional catering service provided by Alice and Jacopo Lovisolo, the fourth generation of a renowned family-owned Italian business in the gastronomy sector. With over 120 years of experience, they offer refined Mediterranean cuisine inspired by Ligurian traditions that makes the flavours of the salt and sea blend harmoniously together. Their expertise guarantees a high quality culinary experience worthy of UBS Monaco’s high standards of excellence.