design hot list The embodiment of Moroccan living as an art form this Medina only reveals itself to the privileged few Best Hotels

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1 D&E Special Feature * Best Hotels design hot list Royal Mansour Handcrafted elegance, fit for a KING The embodiment of Moroccan living as an art form this Medina only reveals itself to the privileged few Location Marrakech, Morocco Hotel Royal Mansour Opened June 2010 Interior Designers 3BIS Design Architects OBMI Photographs Courtesy of Royal Mansour & Cocotraie Magazine With its gasp-inducing design the Royal Mansour is part living museum, part hotel and 100 percent haute living born out of a vision by the current King of Morocco, Mohammed VI to, with no expense spared, create a spectacular masterpiece whilst reflecting the true essence of Moroccan tradition. Featuring the perfect balance between traditional and opulent North African, Spanish as well as Portugal s Moroccan architecture, the Royal Mansour offers history, comfort and exclusivity to its guests many of whom are comprised of royalty and heads of state. An almost city-within-a-city the Royal Mansour is as precious and mysterious as the city itself. Built on an 8 acre compound set within the ancient walls of Marrakech s old city, the hotel is fully enclosed by 5 metre high walls which lie back to back with the old city s walls which surround the area. And although on a short walk to the buzz of the Djemaa el-fna, Royal Mansour is almost camouflaged away from prying eyes. The initial project to build the hotel began in Nov 2006 with America based OBMI Architects employed to plan and build the hotel with France based 3BIS Design, brought on-board for the interior design including the creation of tailor made furniture and lighting

2 Construction then started in 2006 and took almost three and a half years to complete with more than 1,500 skilled artisans and master craftsmen from Marrakech, Fez, Meknes and Essaouira employed to design and refine every detail of the hotel, to the intricate specification of the King. No budget was ever fixed for this audacious project but as we would soon discover the result is priceless. There are even nods to the King s own palace, from which inspiration was also drawn and replicated. First impressions as you drive along the sweeping, avenue, lined with Centenarian Olive trees and arrive at the Royal Mansour s imposing and massive four ton intricately etched bronze entry gate with its metal and sculptured plaster, is a tingling sense of magic and mystery. This monumental gate is a testament to the intricate craftsmanship of the Royal Mansour and a prelude of the palatial splendour yet to come. Inside, the Royal Mansour is an oasis of elegant riads, punctuated with quiet courtyards, winding alleyways, vibrant manicured gardens, fountains that produce spectacular water displays, colourful mosaics and intimate restaurants. The meticulous design and beauty of the hotel is revealed in its layers, marrying the classical shapes of the traditional medina with all the modern conveniences of the most opulent hotels around the world. Space has been organised more like in a place with a history than in a hotel, you re entering a stately

3 home, where none of the usual hotel codes apply, just organised spaces that obey the rules of Moroccan architecture. In the lobby area you are greeted with a glistening marble central tiled portico floor which is a wonder in itself and simply stunning and a showpiece of Moroccan decorative art, a central fountain with pools that ebb and flow, ceiling to floor long rich drapes, silver handrails, decorative ornate furniture and a dramatic chandelier. Everywhere you look the detailing is astonishing and sometimes outrageous, every furnishing, finishing touch and everyday item looks like a work of art. The decadent detailing and adornments are evident throughout the hotel, from the intricate ornamental tilework, cedarwood carvings, carved plasters, hand-painted woods, bespoke Zelliges and mosaics. Everywhere Copper lanterns and ornate shade suspension from the high ceiling, and miniature marquetries and sculptures are presented at every turn. The decoration, above all Moroccan, is also inspired by Mediterranean, Eastern and Western concepts. Intimate, luxurious, whilst remaining traditional and contemporary. More than just a hotel, it is a house that is richly decorated with various designs, and a mixture of different styles, a testimony to ancient cultures. Beyond the enclaves of salmon-hued walls, the garden of picturesque orange and lemon trees leads to Mansour s 26,000 sqft spa. In close collaboration with consultant SPA Maker Odile de Vars, 3BIS designed this unique spa in keeping with the Moroccan tradition that allies body and spirit. Inside, a grand white atrium comes to life over tiers of arched, latticework frames, housing a Moroccan hammam, with its narrow, passageways, succession of spaces, lighting effects and lanterns. The extra-large spa suites, where the essence of the spa is concentrated, each have their own décor, unique fragrance, marble flooring with veiled terraces, and plunge pool overlooking the medina and hotel s gardens below. Uniquely, the Royal Mansour is made up of 53 individually decorated three storey, one, two, and three-bedroom traditional riads, which range in size from 1,400-sq.-ft. to a palace-sized 21,520-sq.-ft, each dotted along the Royal Mansour s winding garden filled pathways lined

4 Rooftop views from guests private riads offer unparalleled views of the city with centuries old olive groves and palm trees. In typical Moroccan living the architecture of the Royal Mansour is based on the principles of the medina, an organic architectural development, that puts all the riads on an equal footing, with no sign of their real size, richness and complexity from the outside. Each of the riads has its own distinctive character where beautiful fabrics mingle with the finest made-to-measure furniture and each room a perfect expression of attention to detail and elegance. The sumptuously appointed living rooms and equally dazzling bedroom are decorated with intricate zellige ornate tile-work, carpets, carved ceiling plaster, antique furniture and an array of fabrics and handpainted arched doorways. The attention to detail continues with silk-smooth tadelakt wall plaster covered in mother-ofpearl and precise pink into gold leaf, Suzani embroideries and miles and miles of silk and suede cushions and throws. At the heart of each riad, you will find a delightful central courtyard with a fountain, and above a rooftop terrace with sun deck, fireplace and heated plunge pool providing stunning views of the Medina and or the Atlas mountains. You and all this space are tended to by appointed staff as well as your very own attentive yet discreet butler who appears silently out from the hotel s series of unique, innovative and ingenious underground tunnel service entrances in order to guarantee absolute privacy and discretion. Interestingly this underground system, designed by OBMI, was

5 modelled after Disney World, which has a whole city of staff and services underground. As days turns to night, Royal Mansour s splendour renews, as thousands of custom lights and candles bring romance and beauty to this already breath taking hotel. Many of the riads have dining rooms however for those who wish the Royal Mansour has three lavishly decorated restaurants to chose from. La Grande Table Française, widely regarded as the best French restaurant in Africa, embroiled in a succession of pure white volumes punctuated by veils of silver thread, onyx and Thassos crystal marble, sculpted plaster, white ceilings and crystal chandeliers. La Grande Table Marocaine, a room decorated in the Moroccan spirit, in honeyed tones, with low seats and benches, and the all-day-dining La Table, which serves a variety of Mediterranean dishes. Each of which are overseen by chef Yannick Alléno who works his magic through the two cultures. Fmi . info@royalmansour.ma tel Featuring the perfect balance between traditional and opulent Moroccan architecture, the Royal Mansour offers history, comfort and exclusivity to its guests. This is a place that is comparable to but a handful of hotels around the world, attracting people who are looking for sophistication, elegance and luxury. Here one does not reside in a hotel room or plush suite, but in their own unique home with access to an exceptional and unrivalled lifestyle that reveals itself to only the very privileged few. o

6 D&E Special Feature Meet the Interior Designers Nicolas Papamiltiades & Fabrice Bourg 3BIS Design Following an international call for tenders, the conception for the interior design and decoration of the Royal Mansour was awarded to 3BIS Architecture Decoration in June Involved from the outset, in association with OBMI, Nicolas Papamiltiades and Fabrice Bourg, co-founders of the design firm also had an opportunity to design an original line of bathroom accessories and bespoke brass fittings. The idea was to create a showcase for Moroccan excellence and design a palace with an international vision firmly set in its era. To give birth to a place which, from the very start, would have a history and tell a story. To achieve that ambition, Nicolas and Fabrice strove, on their journeys round Morocco and in their exchanges with local craftsmen, to develop a script in tune with traditional values, set in a modern décor combining a mixture of styles, even contrasting styles, in order to exalt the premises in a permanent delight for the eye. As for the development of the interior spaces, their organisation and volumes, we chose to stay as close as possible to the principles of traditional riads by adapting them to the desired dimensions as well as to the hotel s operating criteria. We also resized some spaces like the bathrooms, to recreate true bathing experiences and offer maximum comfort. For the materials we have used a number of materials including Granite, Marble, Onyx, Zellige, Bejmats, stones, mosaics, parquet floors with leather files and marquetteries, and this only applies to the flooring. You can also find Colt skins, Cordova leaver, Shells, Mother of Pearl, fabrics embroidered with Silver thread and Gold wire. No preferences, in particular, just undisputed wealth and sophistication throughout. 3BIS s work demonstrates an incredible attention to detail together with an intricate and refined delicate touch which remains faithful to the artisans of Moroccan. o