Monaco to reclaim land from sea in order to expand

London, Dec 28 (ANI): In order to extend world's most densely populated country Monaco, Prince Albert II has launched a drive to build into the Mediterranean. He plans to reclaim an area of around 12.5 acres from the sea through a ground-breaking scheme that will allow the tiny population of the country to expand.

Monaco's current population is just over 32,000. Only a fifth of these are native Monegasques and a select few newcomers are taken on each year.

Architects Norman Foster and Daniel Libeskind are leading the race to extend Monaco. It will extend from Fontvieille District at the western foot of the "rock", where Monaco's palace and historic centre are situated, The Telegraph reports.

The 10 billion pound plan was first floated last year, but was dropped due to the financial crisis and the Prince's concerns over damage being caused to the marine environment.

The prince has now decided on a smaller development that will include a mixture of luxury property, offices and industry and public buildings.

The land reclamation will be made fiendishly complex by the eco-conscious Prince, as he has insisted the entire extension should be built on stilts like an oil rig in order not to disrupt the marine life beneath.

Tonelli said Fontvieille could be completed in several phases.

Major names from the world of architecture will then be asked to come up with new designs, with construction not expected to start before 2015, the paper reports. (ANI)