Dar Sabra

Marrakech

The ochre city of Marrakech, facing the snow capped peaks of the High Atlas, is a must visit destination for anyone coming to Morocco. An imperial city like Fés and Meknés, it has the distinct privilege of having given its name to the entire kingdom. Behind the mud brick ramparts of the Medina, we find the city’s historical heritage, including a huge number of palaces and mosques, the most famous of which is the Koutoubia mosque, overlooking the city from its 70 meter high minaret.

According to a Berber legend, Marrakech owes its nickname of the “red city” to the blood that was shed when the the Koutoubia was built in the heart of of Marrakech. The blood flowed in such abundance that the walls, the roads and the houses all became red.

Founded in the 11^th century by the Almoravides dynasty, this prestigious city is a privileged destination for tourists thanks to its cultural wealth, its superb setting and its very special atmosphere; an atmosphere that can be especially felt by visiting the colorful and lively souks, where a thousand different trades are represented and by visiting the Place Jemaa El-Fna with its story tellers, snake charmers and jugglers who perform both day and night.

A riad dedicated to contemporary art

In the heart of the Palmeraie, in the middle of a luxuriant park decorated with contemporary sculpture, the Dar Sabra is a luxurious, modern, design boutique hotel.

Surrounded by a magnificent collection of statues paying tribute to the world’s most renowned contemporary artists, the Mexican inspired main house also contains numerous works of art. Wherever one looks, a cheerful and colorful, childlike or reflective work of art appears. On the patio walls, large ceramic frescoes reproduce the femme fatales of the Icelandic painter, ERRO.

Formerly the private residence of the owner, Françpos Chapoutot, the hotel offers its guests the family like atmosphere of a luxurious boarding house. The ultra contemporary interior was inspired by different world cultures, including warm tones for Africa, a zen like presence for the Far East and luxuriance or Art Deco for the Orient. All of the 20 rooms however, were designed with taste and contemporary comfort.

Like mini riads, eight suites opening onto the private patio are spread along the more than 30 square meter swimming pool. There again, the luxury lies in the abundant space and the materials chosen. Touches of raw art highlight the tadelakt cream colored walls of the 90 square meter villas, all of which reflect the aesthetics so dear to the Dar Sabra.

The Villa di Rosa, a small independent jewel of the hotel, was designed differently. It’s a magnificent contemporary luxury villa, very open onto the outside but which preserves a sense of privacy because of its location, apart from the others, in the middle of a garden of olive trees. Once again, we see the hand of François Chapoutot and his love of contemporary art. Anonymous objects he came across and fell in love with during his travels stand side by side and enhance the works of well known artists.

In the garden, the arrangement, composed by the owner himself, consists of a collection of African coins, paying tribute to Land art. With its private, 8 meter long swimming pool in which guests can swim against the current, and its own patio, the garden is a veritable haven of peace.

In the same spirit as a boarding house, the bar and the restaurant, which surround the main swimming pool from one end to the other, were designed as alcoves opening onto the outside. In this house, classified as one of the most beautiful houses in the world, art is an integral part of the site; a successful challenge launched by the owner to make his property a privileged space for lovers of contemporary art and design in a truly enchanting setting.

When the cow statue in the park suddenly collapsed as a result of having rusted, the owner commissioned the artist, Richard de Rosa to make another one in stainless steel.