To mark Edmond de Rothschild’s 40th anniversary in the Principality, the bank is opening new premises in the heart of La Condamine. Gérard Ohresser, CEO of Edmond de Rothschild Monaco, reflects on a project that embodies the firm’s deep-rooted presence, its approach to private banking and its commitment to bringing together its areas of expertise.
It is, of course, a significant milestone for us, and it carries great symbolic weight. We wanted this new location to live up to our long-standing presence in Monaco, whilst also reflecting who we are today. In July 2026, our 270 staff members therefore moved into a brand-new building in the heart of La Condamine. It enables us to bring together all our private banking services under one roof, as well as several areas of our ecosystem.
This project also reflects a firm belief: in our line of work, the quality of the relationship remains essential. We therefore wanted to create a space that fosters professional excellence, closeness to our clients and collaboration between our various areas of expertise.
The location is particularly consistent with our desire to be fully integrated into Monegasque life. La Condamine is a historic, central and vibrant district of the Principality. The building blends into the existing urban landscape, opposite the Place d’Armes and Monaco’s market. This location captures quite well the balance we were seeking: respecting history and the environment whilst resolutely looking to the future.
It covers 5,300 m², spread over 11 levels, including 7 storeys. In particular, we have 18 client lounges and a conference room. But beyond the figures, the challenge was to design the spaces based on how they would be used. We wanted to create a fluid flow of movement and maximise opportunities for both formal and informal meetings. The building had to be a pleasant place for our staff to work and immediately welcoming to our clients.
This attention to detail is also evident in the layout of the client-facing areas, located on the ground floor, the 6th and 7th floors. Some of the lounges are modular so they can be adapted to suit different meeting formats.
From the first to the fifth floor, staff offices are organised as open-plan spaces to encourage interaction. The two basement levels house, amongst other things, several meeting rooms, a magnificent vault and a library. Staff have access to a gym with changing rooms and showers, and a large canteen.
Yes. Private banking is, of course, based on individual expertise, but the ability to quickly mobilise a range of skills to support a client has become crucial.
In Monaco, we bring together private banking and its services in discretionary asset management, advisory services, property financing, wealth engineering and life insurance brokerage. The new headquarters specifically facilitates this cross-functional approach. It enables teams to work more closely together and allows clients to access all the expertise they may require more quickly.
For us, it was not a question of adding an environmental dimension to the project after it had been designed, but of integrating it into the overall thinking on the building’s quality and sustainability.
The building has been awarded BD2M Bronze certification – Monaco’s Sustainable Mediterranean Buildings scheme. This certification assesses sustainable construction against several environmental criteria, including insulation, choice of materials and the well-being of occupants. The choice of the thalassothermal loop installed by the Principality is also part of this approach.
Because it is deeply rooted in the identity of Edmond de Rothschild. We are an independent, family-owned investment house. This concept implies a particular understanding of time, relationships and responsibility.
We wanted to reflect this in the premises. The décor itself engages with the history of the family and the House. Photographs, works of art, the names of the lounges and various architectural features evoke this heritage without turning the premises into a museum. The aim was rather to create a sense of continuity.
It is about giving concrete expression to who we are: much more than a bank, a House built over the long term. The new headquarters thus hosts a Wine Club and the first Monegasque boutique of the Caron perfume house. These are worlds apart from private banking, of course, but they share the same culture of excellence, transmission, expertise and the long-term perspective.
Our aim is not to simply juxtapose different activities, but to create a genuine ecosystem and a place for people to come together.
On the contrary. They enable us to express our identity more effectively.
Edmond de Rothschild is an investment firm, but its history is also one of entrepreneurship, wealth, wealth transfer, commitment and exceptional creations. Private banking forms part of this broader world.
Our clients are themselves entrepreneurs, families and investors faced with challenges that very often go beyond mere financial management. Understanding their plans, their wealth and how they envisage passing it on requires a long-term relationship built on trust.
For me, this new headquarters represents a kind of culmination, but above all a new beginning. After 25 years’ experience in international banking groups, I realise just how much the working environment for our teams, the ability to share expertise and the quality of the client experience can contribute to a private bank’s performance.
Our ambition is to continue our growth in Monaco without losing what makes us unique: an independent, family-run institution that is discerning in its choices and capable of building long-term relationships.
That they immediately recognise Edmond de Rothschild.
The excellence and entrepreneurial spirit that characterise the firm, of course, but also a certain way of welcoming clients, engaging with them and building relationships.
