The Majorelle Gardens : Islamic Inspiration

The Majorelle Garden is a botanical garden inspired from tourism Islamic garden of approximately 300 species on nearly a hectare in Marrakech in Morocco and a museum of Berber culture.

It bears the name of its founder, the French painter Jacques Majorelle (1886-1962), who created it in 1931. Purchased by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé in 1980, it is up to date to the Foundation Pierre Bergé - Yves Saint Laurent and the house is labeled Illustrious houses since 2011.

 

In 1919 the French painter Jacques Majorelle (1886-1962) (son of the famous cabinetmaker new art decorator Louis Majorelle Nancy) is installed in the Medina of Marrakech (during the French protectorate in Morocco) of which falls in love.

In 1922 he bought a palm grove on the edge of that of Marrakech, northwest of the medina, and in 1931, he built by architect Paul Sinoir his villa style Moorish architecture / art deco of astonishing modernity, inspired by the architect Le Corbusier. he landscape its main house on the first floor and a large artist studio on the ground floor to paint his immense scenery. 

Following a car accident, Majorelle is repatriated to Paris where he disappears in 1962. The garden was then abandoned for many years.

Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé discover the Majorelle Garden in 1966, during their first stay in Marrakech "we were charmed by this oasis where Matisse colors mingle with those of nature." They bought the Majorelle Garden in 1980 to save a complex project that foresaw his death; it will be the third acquisition of the couple in the city of Marrakech.

The new owners decided to live in the house of the artist, renamed Villa Oasis, and undertake large garden restoration work to "make the most beautiful Majorelle garden, the one that had thought Jacques Majorelle, envisaged". The studio of the painter turned into a museum open to the public Berber and in which the Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé is exposed.