Hello Monaco #13 Winter 2021–2022 | Page 68

DESIGN TALKS
Olga Taran and Marieux van den Broek in Blue Gin bar , Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel
Presidential Office Conference Room product but also its humanity and philanthropy through its Foundations and events linked to them . What is a philanthropist for you ?
Marieux : In my opinion , a philanthropist is someone who cares about people and the environment you belong to . I think that is just what I do . I care about my staff , I care about the few hundred people who are working under my umbrella , I care about the clients I make happy because of what I do . I love my job , I love to design , to create ; this is my prime passion . I cannot live without it . Obviously , when you want high quality , it costs money . According to the Calvinistic tradition , in my Country we say : “ Less is more ”. I have never understood that quote because it does not make me happy at all as a designer and human being . On the contrary , I like going to the limit .
: What makes Monaco different from other places ?
Marieux : The Principality is absolutely a distinctive location compared to any other place because of at least two aspects . First of all , it is very safe for most people living there , which is extremely important . Secondly , the special fairy-tail touch that Monaco gives is real if you are open to embrace it . It has the power to give you pure quality and a reason to smile to yourself . It is of course not accessible to everyone , but it is still attractive for many good talented people from the outside . If more of them had the chance to access it Monaco would grow even more . This is actually my big wish .
: What “ new ” would you bring to Monaco ?
Marieux : Well , I have an encyclopedia of ideas . If you are a quality person and you have already invested a lot of money for an apartment or a house , then you are looking to decorate the spaces in a quality manner . As a matter of fact , there are virtually no places to go to find what you want . I am not criticizing the local market but there are just a few genuine interior architects such as ourselves , as opposed to simple decorators . We take care of everything and we deliver a complete bespoke project on the basis of the agreed budget . My wonderful team takes full care of the complete design , technical design , licences , manufacturing , installation , procurement , and project management .
: Do you think that the Interior-Treasures Monaco style may change the lives of inhabitants for the better to make them feel happier ?
Marieux : To be an interior architect & designer can be ‘ easy ’ if you decide to use the same design-approach everywhere again and again . But this is not the way . If my clients wake up in the morning and say “ Wow !” while admiring the
66 / Hello Monaco Winter 2021 – 2022 www . hellomonaco . com