New Playground

Every time we go to Marrakesh, we are struck at the development of the city. New streets, sidewalks, buildings, apartment flats, springing up and remodeling of existing medina walls and riads are in evidence everywhere.

When we returned to the Menara (old water pools) in the city olive grove, we discovered that we could not drive in, but had to park and walk.

We like the medina square Jma el Fna, totally unique, even in Morocco. An empty square by day transforms it self into a makeshift entertainment center - outdoor restaurant and grill for the public. From a Bostonian's point of view, it's like the original Harvard Square or Quincy Market.


Marrakesh, The New Playground
April 13, 2008 -

Many traditional Moroccan houses are being luxuriously developed as the rich and famous make Morocco their new playground Marrakech is fast becoming a real estate hot-spot thanks to its warm winters and priceless landscapes.

The boom is transforming the Bohemian Arab capital into Africa's answer to Palm Springs. The colour, diversity, and vibrancy of Marrakech is attracting more and more fashionable and sophisticated travellers. Thanks to the boom, large up-market housing developments have been springing up throughout Marrakech's city limits.

Many of the city's new residents are snapping up properties in the old quarters of the city, better known as the Medina. It is in these winding streets where the authentic heart of the city is. Within the Medina reside many of the city's traditional shops and artisans workshops.

Traditional houses in the Medina are known as riads, meaning garden in Arabic.
Built around a courtyard, the life of a riad is turned away from the outside world. With thick walls and few windows, most of the natural light comes from the courtyard. The inward structure of the houses reflects traditional Moroccan life which emphasises the importance of the family.

Today, more than 650 riads have been bought by Europeans and renovated as chic modern Moroccan vacation homes.

Abdellatif Ben Abdellah is an owner of a traditional riad. He says traditional riads in Marrakech must be restored and cared for if the city wants to remain a top tourist destination.

Marrakech has seen prices quadruple in the last 10 years, and prices are continuing to rise about 20 percent a year.

One of the city's more glamorous riads is Riad El Fenn. Opened as a luxury nine room guest house at the end of 2004, the El Fenn has become the Medina's must-sleep in. Frederic Scholl, the manager, says Morocco, unlike Dubai, has plenty of history to offer the visitor.

Intrepid property-seekers are now looking farther afield, setting their sights some 10 miles (16.9 kilometres) from Marrakech in the Palm Grove, an oasis of 150,000 palm trees and with views of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. In the Palm Grove construction is in full swing for the new to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Spread over 7 hectares, the hotel will offer 161 guest rooms over 80sq metres in size (861 square feet).

Jaouad Kadari is the manager of Mandarin Hotel. He says part of the project will include planting over 100,000 trees. The hotel will be surrounded by 45 villas spread over 50 hectares, with the starting price of one villa at 4 million euros (5 million US dollars). With this hefty price tag, only the very rich will be able to afford a villa at the Mandarin Hotel.
However, Kadari says residents will be able live in a palace for the same price of an apartment in London or New York.

Marrakech has long been host to international personalities and jet-setters, from Winston Churchill to Yves St Laurent. In the 1990s Europeans started to flock to Marrakech moving in to create their own 1001 Nights-style dream-homes or guest-houses.

Associated Press
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