WORDS Cheri Morris IMAGES Emily Andrews & La Dichosa
Maison Brummell Majorelle is a sculptural boutique hotel in Marrakech inspired by the romance of Arabic architecture and Moroccan desert desiderata as imagined by New Zealand studio Bergendy Cooke and Moroccan Architect Amine Abouraoui.
Situated alongside Marrakech’s famous Majorelle Gardens, the design intention was to reflect local architecture in honour of the site’s history while adding a modern edge. References to the ancient rampart walls of the Marrakech Medina and towering arched shapes abound, but instead of replication what ensues is a playful dialogue between time-bound historical and timeless contemporary design.
Maison Brummell Majorelle rises a monolithic sculptural mass with large curved recesses and openings sculpted into its facade. Tunnels and entrances have been carved into the ground floor, while U-shaped balconies and windows of varying scales feature on the first floor, mirroring the floor beneath. An exercise in simplification that allows singular elements to speak volumes.
Sandcastle-like, exterior openings transition into private interiors where deep recesses act like ancient mashrabiya screens to protect women from being viewed from the exterior. In other spaces, sculptural forms create terraces that extend from the rooms, including a bedroom balcony with U-shaped walls and built-in benches finished in a light pink Tadelakt plaster that matches the hotel’s exterior walls.
Inside, a museum of local artisans and materials experience application in a less traditional context. Steel joinery and finishes feature throughout, including handmade tiles and brass elements. Almost all interior elements were designed by Bergendy Cooke.
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