G
Grant Rawlings
New Member
Marrakech has quietly been gaining a reputation for its style, not least for the elegance of many restored riads tucked away on dusty alleyways in the Medina behind unimposing facades.
Over the last few years, there has been a surge in popularity in riads. Sometimes it feels like everybody is buying here and one constantly hears of the rich and famous transforming ruined riads into modern chic homes that feature in glossy magazines around the world. If the gossip columns are to be believed, the Hermes family are the latest big name trawling the Medina for a residence and are negotiating on the riad of the late American designer, Bill Willis.
Marrakech is proud of its buzzing cultural scene and Moroccan publications on architecture and interiors such as Maisons du Maroc and Prestige attest to the city's deep interest in design.
Yet restoring a riad with sumptuous design detail does not have to break the bank. Labour and materials are comparatively cheap in Morocco and many features can be built for very little cost then finished in an array of beautiful methods such as traditional plasterwork or tadelakt.Over the last few years, there has been a surge in popularity in riads. Sometimes it feels like everybody is buying here and one constantly hears of the rich and famous transforming ruined riads into modern chic homes that feature in glossy magazines around the world. If the gossip columns are to be believed, the Hermes family are the latest big name trawling the Medina for a residence and are negotiating on the riad of the late American designer, Bill Willis.
Marrakech is proud of its buzzing cultural scene and Moroccan publications on architecture and interiors such as Maisons du Maroc and Prestige attest to the city's deep interest in design.
Yet restoring a riad with sumptuous design detail does not have to break the bank. Labour and materials are comparatively cheap in Morocco and many features can be built for very little cost then finished in an array of beautiful methods such as traditional plasterwork or tadelakt.
Riads are simple buildings and simplicity is the key to their transformation. There is a purity to their natural space that should be respected and allowed to breathe. Once you understand this and the symmetry of a riad, and its volumes and use of light, you understand that the fabric of a riad balances with the minimalism of its building and it only needs a light decorative touch and a few design details to lift the overall aesthetic into a modern chic home.
All manner of simple features can be built to achieve this, from floating stairs, to plasma walls with a dvd/stereo shelf and a niche embedded with designer spot lights to take a wall-mounted screen.
When renovating a riad, almost all of its fabric is handmade by craftmen and artisans from the wrought-iron shuttered windows to Moucharabie cupboards. This not only means the house in itself is beautiful, but also makes renovation cost effective.
Real cost savings though come from having an entire kitchen built, which obviously removes the need to go out and buy one. It is the same for a bathroom. It is the norm for an entire bathroom to be built including the sink, bath and shelving and then having it finished in tadelakt.
Other items that are commonly built for aesthetic reasons, which save money are bed bases, studies, fireplaces, shelves and banquette sofas.
Over the last few years, there has been a surge in popularity in riads. Sometimes it feels like everybody is buying here and one constantly hears of the rich and famous transforming ruined riads into modern chic homes that feature in glossy magazines around the world. If the gossip columns are to be believed, the Hermes family are the latest big name trawling the Medina for a residence and are negotiating on the riad of the late American designer, Bill Willis.
Marrakech is proud of its buzzing cultural scene and Moroccan publications on architecture and interiors such as Maisons du Maroc and Prestige attest to the city's deep interest in design.
Yet restoring a riad with sumptuous design detail does not have to break the bank. Labour and materials are comparatively cheap in Morocco and many features can be built for very little cost then finished in an array of beautiful methods such as traditional plasterwork or tadelakt.Over the last few years, there has been a surge in popularity in riads. Sometimes it feels like everybody is buying here and one constantly hears of the rich and famous transforming ruined riads into modern chic homes that feature in glossy magazines around the world. If the gossip columns are to be believed, the Hermes family are the latest big name trawling the Medina for a residence and are negotiating on the riad of the late American designer, Bill Willis.
Marrakech is proud of its buzzing cultural scene and Moroccan publications on architecture and interiors such as Maisons du Maroc and Prestige attest to the city's deep interest in design.
Yet restoring a riad with sumptuous design detail does not have to break the bank. Labour and materials are comparatively cheap in Morocco and many features can be built for very little cost then finished in an array of beautiful methods such as traditional plasterwork or tadelakt.
Riads are simple buildings and simplicity is the key to their transformation. There is a purity to their natural space that should be respected and allowed to breathe. Once you understand this and the symmetry of a riad, and its volumes and use of light, you understand that the fabric of a riad balances with the minimalism of its building and it only needs a light decorative touch and a few design details to lift the overall aesthetic into a modern chic home.
All manner of simple features can be built to achieve this, from floating stairs, to plasma walls with a dvd/stereo shelf and a niche embedded with designer spot lights to take a wall-mounted screen.
When renovating a riad, almost all of its fabric is handmade by craftmen and artisans from the wrought-iron shuttered windows to Moucharabie cupboards. This not only means the house in itself is beautiful, but also makes renovation cost effective.
Real cost savings though come from having an entire kitchen built, which obviously removes the need to go out and buy one. It is the same for a bathroom. It is the norm for an entire bathroom to be built including the sink, bath and shelving and then having it finished in tadelakt.
Other items that are commonly built for aesthetic reasons, which save money are bed bases, studies, fireplaces, shelves and banquette sofas.
