Synagogue Edmond Safra, Orthodox synagogue in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
Synagogue Edmond Safra is a Modernist synagogue at 15 avenue de la Costa in Monte Carlo, designed by Thierry Despont with Suzanne Belaieff and built by J.B. Pastor & Fils. The tower-like building rises four levels to about 12 metres and was completed in 2017, replacing the Villa Esmeralda, a Belle Époque villa of 1887 that had been converted into a synagogue with a dome at the rear.
The building was constructed between 2015 and 2017 and inaugurated by Prince Albert II of Monaco. It was built on the site of the former Villa Esmeralda and named after banker Edmond Safra, a member of the prominent Safra banking family.
The synagogue is run by the Association Cultuelle Israélite de Monaco (ACIM), founded in 1948. The community today numbers around 1,000 people, most of them retirees who came from France, the United Kingdom, North Africa and Turkey. The building is named after banker and philanthropist Edmond J. Safra (1932–1999), whose foundation helped fund the construction.
The building is located on Avenue de la Costa and is easily accessible on foot in the Monte Carlo area. Keep in mind this is a private facility, so access may be restricted outside of public events or programs.
The architecture by Thierry Despont references design elements from the Safra Synagogue in New York, creating a connection between two important places for the family. This architectural link ties the Monaco community to its broader Jewish heritage.
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