Le Jardin Majorelle, Marrakech
Amidst the bustling, eclectic ambience of the souks & kasbahs of Marrakech stands one of North Africa’s most diverse, abundant gardens – the JARDIN MAJORELLE – a tranquil haven conceived by the artist Jacques Majorelle in 1924. Opened to the public in 1947 and acquired by the fashion designer YVES SAINT LAURENT and his partner PIERRE BERGÉ in 1980, the garden remains a public attraction today – offering a rare glimpse into this rich and intriguing fusion of traditional and European design of the early 20th century.
The 1931 villa nestled within the grounds is rendered in a rich cerulean blue (a customary local colour that was henceforth labelled ‘bleu majorelle’ after the artist’s liberal use of the tone attracted international attention). Originally drawn up by architect Paul Sinoir as ‘the blue workshop’, the building currently houses the Islamic Art Museum – and was recently host to an extensive exhibition of Yves Saint Laurent‘s designs. The designer had always claimed that Morocco influenced his creations, and the exhibition, initiated and directed by Pierre Bergé, paid homage by Yves Saint Laurent to the inhabitants of Marrakech, to its sky, to its colours and its light.
Botanical specimens from across the world are represented in the varied landscapes of the garden – with cactus, palms, succulent shrubs, exotic flowers and bamboo plantations all thriving in the Moroccan sun. A carp-filled pool flanks the main building, and multiple fountains are dotted around the grounds, decorated in mosaic in the customary style of the Berber tribes.
The most recent addition to the garden is a somewhat sombre column hidden in a leafy corner – a memorial stone laid in remembrance of Yves Saint Laurent born in the Algerian city of Oran in 1936, passed away in Paris in 2008.
Sitting barely three hours flight from Belgium, the wonderous Jardin Majorelle is one of innumerable delights to discover in the historic city of Marrakech – a vibrant crossroads of European, Arabic & African pleasure.
Tags: Jardin Majorelle, Pierre Bergé, Yves Saint Laurent