Villa D

Strikingly Minimal, Breathtakingly Serene

Studio Ko, the renowned Parisian architectural duo behind Marrakesh’s Musée Yves Saint Laurent, dreamed up this spare desert dream space on the road to Ouazazate. Austere in all the right ways, it’s a compound of earthen bricks complemented by leather sofas, handwoven rugs, and artisan furnishings that exudes a rare tranquility—a deep, exhaling calm—only a 15-minute drive outside the Red City’s cacophonous, vibrating medina.

Created by Olivier Marty and Karl Fournier of Studio Ko fame and overseen by Majd Chetouani, a Marrakesh native who formerly owned and operated an ecological guest house in the Red City, Villa D stands as a hymn to the unrivaled harmony of architecture and nature. A veritable earthen haven, the complex is set amid a varied show of garden environments—an arid desert spilling out, untamed, on one side, a soft edible garden plot filling another, a manicured lawn spreading out from a different façade, and an architectural display of palm fronds, papyrus, prickly cacti and glinting olive limbs occupying another.

Built in 2006, the first of Studio Ko’s local projects, this villa for rent in Morocco blends unobtrusively into its arid surroundings, an unexpectedly serene outpost on the road to Ouarzazate. A striking masterpiece of minimalism, the traditionally constructed residence offers a spareness that mimics the rugged calm of the desert with a warm, earthen palette and ochre as its high note. Textured walls remain gloriously unadorned, clean-lined furnishings are hand-tooled in wood, straw and stone, and luxury comes in the form of deep-soak bathtubs, deep-silled windows, handloomed linens, and an on-site spa and hammam space, offset by the generous pool, shaded alcoves, and a dedicated yoga space. The home’s main building holds seven bedrooms, a separate structure contains two larger suites, and the home’s principal suite is set upstairs with a private terrace. A garden compound offers three additional bedrooms, slightly more rustic in styling.

EXPERIENCES

Much of Villa D’s allure comes from its simplicity and discretion. Breakfasts are provided as part of the stay, each one unique, and Majd, who has been a Marrakesh resident for many years, can assist in booking chef’s meals at the property, tours through the herb and vegetable gardens, feeding the animals, and fitness, yoga, and Tai chi classes. Visits outside of the estate are also available, including a tour of the Ourika Valley, a meal with a local family, or a sunset picnic with the Agafay Desert as backdrop.

AROUND

Located on the road to Ouarzazate, a southern Atlas Mountain city considered the gateway to the Sahara Desert, this villa for rent in Morocco sits only 15 minutes from the heart of Marrakesh’s frenetic medina. The former imperial city’s heart is celebrated as a veritable labyrinth of streets and alleys made up of shops and souks selling textiles, jewelry, spices, and leather goods. Street performers add to the legendary scene, and the city’s maze-like center also bursts with teahouses and cafes, all bordered by glinting minarets, mosques, and soaring date palms. 

On the calmer side, Marrakesh is also known for its landscape architecture, notable gardens such as the late fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent’s famed Jardin Majorelle. Further along the road the home occupies, the town of Ouarzazate features a huge fortress, the Taourirt Kasbah, with a massive 19th-century palace. The Ourika Valley, located along the High Atlas Mountain river of the same name, is a lush destination that begins some 60 kilometers beyond buzzy Marrakesh. The fertile valley offers picturesque Berber villages, ancient historical sites, fast flowing waterfalls and small riverfront communities, and is sought after for its abundant nature-oriented tourism and both wild and cultivated landscapes. The valley offers many options for hiking and water sports, as well as gastronomical and cultural visits to saffron, walnut and argan oil plantations.

LOCATION

Marrakesh, Morocco. Nearest airport: Marrakesh

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Year round