Marrakech expressed: turning an old farm into a light-filled home | Interiors
When French vogue art director Julien Tang achieved photographer and design Cyrielle Rigot in Paris, she was “longing for new air and much-flung adventures”. “Marrakech awaited us,” claims Julien. Soon afterwards, in 2014, the pair transformed a 16th-century townhouse in Marrakech’s medina into Riad Jardin Top secret, an hôtel particulier. After residence to Yves Saint Laurent, who entertained his younger fans there, the household conjures up a 1970s Hideous Kinky style and design appeal.
Nowadays, the few also operate an interior layout studio specialising in a crafted, reliable aesthetic with a contemporary twist in their household house, a former chicken farm 25km outside Marrakech.
Like all their creative projects, reworking the poultry farm was a joint effort and hard work. “Since our initially collaboration, all our assignments have been drawn with 4 hands,” states Cyrielle. “Julien and I share every little thing and do all the things alongside one another.” They feel alike, way too. “When we arrived, a donkey lived below, all by yourself, and we the two realized how considerably a donkey needs enterprise.” They went straight to the nearby donkey marketplace and bought a female companion, considering the fact that christened Kawa by their younger son, Nino. The donkeys share their property with two dogs and a cat.
“We preferred to make a relatives home that was functional,” suggests Cyrielle. “It was essential to have just one area for daytime, where the entire household can be together, and a massive place where by we can maintain an eye on Nino whilst we are cooking.”
Organic light-weight was also a priority, increased by a use of Moroccan architectural features, this kind of as arched windows and ornate metalwork. The windows and door openings allow for the dwelling to be bathed in mild from dawn to sunset. “Living surrounded by light-weight and crops is crucial for us,” claims Julien.
The open-program house prospects to a landscaped yard entire of massive cacti – some virtually as tall as the house – and grasses. Nino has an outside perform spot beneath a thatched lean-to in the outside dining home that overlooks the pool. “The weather is awesome right here,” states Cyrielle, “so it appeared pure for us to build a protected, shady location for Nino exterior.”
“We like to have a lot of crops, trees and flowers close by,” claims Julien. “Nature performs a vital function in our wellbeing. We designed every thing in the backyard garden: when we arrived, there was absolutely nothing.”
‘The theme is inside-outside the house,” says Cyrielle, the purpose was to use mother nature “to produce a serene atmosphere”. She never goes any place without her secateurs, which include when the pair take their bike out. “It is a practice I obtained from my godmother. I like to deliver back memories. I dry my treasures in my workshop, then make bouquets from them.”
The residence is a “place of sharing and relaxation”. Earth tones build warmth and relaxed although luminous shades catch the mild. It’s all offset by flashes of color, like a custom-created eco-friendly velvet couch in the living space, made by Cyrielle and Julien and designed by their group of regional craftsmen a 3m-extensive yellow concrete desk in their workroom, wherever their pet dog is a repeated guest and yellow outside eating chairs, identified in the countryside all around Marrakech.
“We really like to be surrounded by the objects that we have been amassing for many years, identified throughout our excursions or hrs missing in flea markets in Morocco,” suggests Cyrielle. Texture in the residing spaces is “not remaining to chance”: rugs, glass and large earthenware flowerpots housing grasses and cacti deliver focal details. In the principal bedroom, a waxed, dust-colored concrete ground performs with whitewashed walls. Tadelakt, a lime-based plaster with a pure stone result, is utilized on the toilet walls for softness and depth, even though handmade zellige tiles in caramel include sample and texture on the flooring.
The outdoor eating area is the hub of the property. “It is possibly the spot where we meet most generally with household or pals,” states Julien. “We developed and developed the massive oak desk. The straw lampshade set up adds texture.”
For Cyrille, there is no rule when it comes to coming up with a home. “Follow your instincts and listen to your heart,” she claims. “Don’t be reluctant to mix eras, colors and objects. With us, our French society merges with our like for Morocco. The final result is a great balance. This household can make us feel content and so grateful. It is the reflection of our spouse and children – a household with blended cultures. Julien is Laotian-Vietnamese, I am French-Polish. Our son is a mixture of the two of us and we all reside in Morocco! In this house we really feel safe and sound and, previously mentioned all, free to work out our passions.”