The austere facades that line the labyrinthine streets of Morocco's ancient walled neighborhoods reveal almost nothing of the luminous residences within. "The Villas and Riads of Morocco" lifts the veil on these secret paradises, from fantastic palaces in Fez and Essaouira to middle-class riads in Marrakech to converted casbahs in the southern oases. With more than 200 stunning photographs, this beautiful volume takes us behind the scenes to explore a side of Morocco that is largely hidden to outsiders. The book showcases exquisite interiors that combine rich materials such as cedar and marble; luxurious carpets and textiles; filigree carving and other handiwork; and vibrant color palettes. Also featured is the remarkable mosaicwork found especially in the central courtyard gardens and patios that form the heart of the Moroccan house. Accompanying these sumptuous views is a vivid history of the country's residential architecture and its fascinating mix of Andalusian, Arab, and Saharan influences. "The Villas and Riads of Morocco" not only offers a feast for the eyes but also illuminates an entire culture.
The Riads of the Medina (the traditional guesthouses) have become as much of a Marrakech attraction as the Souks themselves. These Riads showcase what visitors find inspiring about Marrakech; an oasis of tranquility with refreshing dipping pools and luxury hammams; excellent kitchens serving gourmet couscous and tagines; courtyards of fountains and chirping birds; rooftop terraces offering private sunbathing with panoramic views of the snowy peaks of the Atlas mountains. The Riads in Marrakech are something between boutique design hotels and historic private preservation museums.
It has been said that Marrakech awakens all of the senses. Whether it is seeing the intricate zellige tilework; smelling the various spices sold at the souks; hearing the call to prayer emanate from the nearby mosques; touching the supple leather used to make a pair of babouches (leather sandals); tasting a flavorful tagine, Marrakech never fails to excite. Located just west of the Atlas Mountains, the city has been inhabited by Berber farmers for centuries. It has been dubbed the “Ochre City” because of the proliferation of red sandstone buildings and the red city walls, which now enclose the Medina, home to Jemaa el-Fnaa, one of the busiest squares in Africa.
Nicknamed ‘the rose among the palms’, the thousand-year-old city of Marrakesh is characterised by its pink-colored pisé architecture and its deeply rooted tradition for gardens and green spaces. The majority of historic sites are inextricable from their gardens – or indeed are historic green spaces: the huge royal orchard pleasure-gardens of the Agdal were described by Monty Don as ‘of international cultural importance on a par with Versailles or Villa d’Este’. Scores of traditional riads and hotels like the Mamounia, created by the French in 1923 on the site of an eighteenth-century royal residence, offer splendid gardens to the visitor. Yves Saint Laurent’s Majorelle garden is an icon of modern garden design. The first book to be published on this fascinating subject, Gardens of Marrakesh champions the city’s relevance today in a world of water scarcity and urban development and explores its green heritage, considering some twenty gardens both from an historic and cultural perspective.
Moroccan design, from the tiled floors to the colored walls, sculpted ceilings, embroidered fabrics, Berber tents, fountains, gardens, and more In a world filled with beige interiors, Morocco is the perfect antidote: a refuge for addicts of saturated color, a haven for devotees of intricate pattern, a destination for admirers of striking architecture. For anyone who wants to add Morocco's spicy design mix into their own home, Maryam Montague, the personality behind the award-winning blog My Marrakesh, explains how to do so with the building blocks of Moroccan design—from the colors, patterns, and textiles to the archways, fountains, gardens, and so much more. With illustrative text and gorgeous photographs, Maryam shows how Moroccan design comes to life in real villas and riads and in her own magnificent home and guesthouse. Eager DIYers will love the ideas presented in sidebars and in how-to projects that can be applied to homes anywhere. Filled with all the richness of Morocco,Marrakesh by Design will transport readers straight to the souks and salons of this exotic city while showing them the multitude of ways to live with the enticing elements of Moroccan design.
This unique anthology of crime fiction features 15 original stories of “scandals, smugglers, and other sordid tales” by award-winning Moroccan authors (CrimeReads). At first glance, Marrakech may seem like an odd setting for noir fiction. Contemporary Moroccans call it The Joyful City—a place where locals are happy to joke about gossip and quick to forget stories of crime. But in Marrakech Noir, some of Morocco’s finest authors address old wrong that have been kept hidden behind the city’s ancient gates, and spin contemporary tales of poverty, grift, and violence in this global tourist destination. Marrakech Noir features brand-new stories by Fouad Laroui, Allal Bourqia, Abdelkader Benali, Mohamed Zouhair, Mohamed Achaari, Hanane Derkaoui, Fatiha Morchid, Mahi Binebine, Mohamed Nedali, Halima Zine El Abidine, My Seddik Rabbaj, Yassin Adnan, Karima Nadir, Taha Adnan, and Lahcen Bakour.
Takes the reader behind the high walls of the city's ancient, narrow streets to see the splendid riads they conceal. A host of glorious photographs make this book to relish and the detailed commentary of Marrakesh's houses and interiors make it an invaluable resource for anyone involved in interiors or design.
How to choose among the thousands of shops, stores, and souk stalls? And how to evenfindthem in this labyrinthine city, where street names and addresses seldom appear on the city map? Let Susan Simon guide you through the winding alleys, hidden courtyards, and bustling markets to uncover the best of the treasures of Marrakech: luxurious caftans; bejeweled shoes and slippers; ethnic jewelry; handmade decorative objects for the home; beautifully embroidered linens; colorful ceramics; sequined antique shawls; gold-encrusted glassware. The stylish author and the photographer (who has appeared on the world’s best-dressed list) both have dozens of ideas of how to incorporate your exotic finds into every wardrobe and home. The guide is divided into seven separate walks–and little bonus walks–that take you through the main shopping areas, using the author’s precise directions and visual landmarks. And, as a caterer and cookbook author, Simon can’t resist pointing out her favorite spots for everything from mint tea and pastries to fragranttagines–many hidden behind innocuous entrances and set in ancient, verdant riads (traditional Moroccan courtyard homes) or on terraces overlooking the breathtaking city.
Marrakech is the heart and lifeblood of Morocco's ancient storytelling tradition. For nearly a thousand years, storytellers have gathered in the Jemaa el Fna, the legendary square of the city, to recount ancient folktales and fables to rapt audiences. But this unique chain of oral tradition that has passed seamlessly from generation to generation is teetering on the brink of extinction. The competing distractions of television, movies and the internet have drawn the crowds away from the storytellers and few have the desire to learn the stories and continue their legacy. Richard Hamilton has witnessed at first hand the death throes of this rich and captivating tradition and, in the labyrinth of the Marrakech medina, has tracked down the last few remaining storytellers, recording stories that are replete with the mysteries and beauty of the Maghreb.
LANDSCAPES: BETWEEN THE DESERT AND THE SEA Morocco is a vast country, offering a multitude of breathtaking landscapes, from the lush Rif region in the north and the Atlantic coast, dotted with blue and white villages, to the vast expanses of the south, with its immense Atlas mountains and burning desert sands. Nestled against this impressive backdrop are the imperial cities--Fez, Meknes, Rabat, and Marrakech--whose splendor bears witness to the magnificence of the sultans of yesteryear. SOUKS: A FEAST FOR THE SENSES The souk--the market at the heart of every medina--is a world unto itself, where enchanting colors, sounds, scents, and materials rouse the senses. Narrow, labyrinthine streets are lined with stalls and shops offering the finest in Moroccan craftsmanship: the carpets, pottery, ceramic tiles, lanterns, and ornate woodwork that are all part of the country's rich heritage. INTERIORS: ORIENTAL REFINEMENT The most impressive Moroccan interiors are to be found in the protected world of "riads" and "dars," Their high outer walls barely hint at the inner splendors hidden within: this is a realm reserved to a select few. Sumptuous rooms lead onto terraces, built around an inner garden or courtyard filled with orange trees and fountains. Herein lies the Orient's timeless image as a Garden of Eden. RENDEZVOUS: "DARS," "RIADS," AND LEGENDARY HOTELS One of Morocco's charms lies in its unique hospitality, which views every visitor as a special guest. Whether you choose to rent a "riad" to experience Morocco as a resident, opt for the elegance of a celebrated hotel, or prefer a more discreet stop in an oasis at the edge of the desert, you will discover the magic andromance that are an integral part of the uniquely generous Moroccan way of life. From its spectacular mountain ranges to its boundless stretches of amber desert and beautiful coastline, Morocco offers an unparalleled panorama for the greedy eye. The intense peacefulness of the country's natural environment contrasts sharply with the bustle of its cities, which overflow with street-life: the "red city" of Marrakech, enchanted Fez, the Atlantic ports of Rabat and Casablanca . . . These different sights, seemingly worlds apart from each other, are all masterfully captured by the camera and brought together in this richly illustrated volume. "Living in Morocco" also takes the reader beyond the imposing walls of medinas and citadels, through labyrinthine streets where traditional "souk" markets are held, and into the homes and hidden gardens of some of the country's most illustrious inhabitants. In these private oases, one can take in the sweet scent of orange trees while sipping a glass of the freshest mint tea and indulging in gourmet delicacies .
