< Previous112 - GOUR MET - Totally Moorish The refurbished restaurants at legendary hotel La Mamounia tell a delectable new story I t’s not easy to completely reimagine a legendary venue while retaining its spirit. Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku – cofounders of Paris-based studio Jouin Manku – however, have risen to the challenge by transform- ing La Mamounia, the iconic Marrakech hotel which has been open since 1923. “Many diff erent architects have been involved in the history of La Mamounia and their work is still visible,” says Jouin. “That’s what we liked: the mix of moods and styles. There are many secrets and surprises, like lit- tle gifts we have put everywhere for the guests to discover.” Inspired by the line, “everything must change so that everything can stay the same,” from the novel The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, the designers trusted their intuitions to reinvent the restaurants and public areas of this magical place where time seems to stand still. Every refreshed space off ers a unique experience, yet all of them complement each other. “We custom designed pieces of furniture, lamps, carpets, consoles and very specifi c ele- ments we called ‘extraordinary objects’,” says Jouin. For example, in the Moroccan tea- room-inspired Salon de Thé by legendary chef pâtissier Pierre Hermé, a huge Jouin AD_036_112-113_Escape_La Mamounia_11452543.indd 11213/12/2020 11:26:36 AMP H O TOS : AL AN KE O HAN E CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: A spectacular chandelier in the Salon de Thé; the hotel’s main entrance; Écrin Sucre by Pierre Hermé; the tiled facade of Le Menzeh restaurant; the evocative interior of L’Asiatique. Manku-designed chandelier made by Lasvit hangs above a fountain in the centre of the space, creating mesmerising refl ections. “There is a mix of geometric and Arabic pat- terns thanks to the new possibilities off ered by software for generative design such as Catia. We always have one foot in the past and the other in the future.” In the sensual and warm L’Asiatique restaurant, the original ceiling was kept, and traditional Moroccan decor and furniture with a mix of Chinese, Japanese and Thai infl uences in black lacquer and dark blue fab- ric have been skilfully combined. “The big lanterns in fabric fl oat in the space, as if by magic,” enthuses Jouin. Adorned with a gold and copper palette, L’Italien restaurant has the feel of a winter garden with large glazed windows that open up to lush vegetation. “[This space] is more about a casual mood, so we put the kitchen in the middle, like the star of the show, with a big chandelier above it,” Jouin says. “A beautiful fresco made of azulejos represents all the veg- etal species guests can fi nd in the garden.” For the Churchill Bar, Jouin Manku shaped an intimate space with a block of sculpted black marble in the center and a design that nods to La Mamounia’s past relationship with railways. “It looks like the Orient Express,” Jouin says. “The small green lamps give an English touch.” The pool pavilion, meanwhile, is a marble temple of sweets with a curving bar in enameled lava stone set around a blue fountain and topped with a chandelier made of fabric and brass. Jouin Manku has added a subtle twist of modernity to these timeless spaces that are both a feast for the eye and the palate. “La Mamounia is about joy and generosity,” says Jouin. “It’s our fi rst project in Morocco but I hope we will come back very soon. We love the history, culture and amazing craftsman- ship. Marrakech is a very special place.” In the meantime, the studio’s next project in the region is a boutique hotel in Saudi Arabia for the Royal Commission for AlUla. patrickjouin.com; lamamounia.com – KARINE MONIÉ “ La Mamounia is about joy and generosity ” AD_036_112-113_Escape_La Mamounia_11452543.indd 11313/12/2020 11:27:03 AM- DR EA M TICK ET - 114 Casa Etérea sits amidst the peaks of Mexico’s Los Picachos mountain range that rises up to 2,600 metres in altitude. The mirrored façade allows the volume to take on a transitional quality as it refl ects the shifting light and unfolding seasons. AD_036_114-121_Escape_Mountain retreats_11440461.indd 11413/12/2020 05:46:55 PMUp & Away Two young architects – one in Lebanon, the other in Mexico – have built extraordinary mountain retreats which are at one with the rhythms of the natural world that surrounds them AD_036_114-121_Escape_Mountain retreats_11440461.indd 11513/12/2020 05:47:08 PMCASA ERETREA A mirrored cabin merges with the Los Picachos mountain range Sequestered amidst mesquite trees, an isolated writer’s retreat clad in mirrored panels disappears into the rugged slopes of the extinct volcano Palo Huérfano, 20 minutes from the UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Conceived as an off -grid hideaway by Mexico-based Singaporean writer and designer Prashant Ashoka, Casa Etérea is a 75 sq/m dwelling with impressive sustainability credentials: it’s powered by solar energy; the water supply is collected rainwater; and it uses a patterned ultraviolet coating on the mirror, making it visible to birds while remaining refl ective to the human eye. “The vision was to create a theatre to nature,” Ashoka explains. “Sustainability was crucial in achieving complete integration with the environment. Shelters in remote places aff ord us a rare stillness and the opportunity to bridge the distance between us and the natural world.” Casa Etérea sits amidst the peaks of the Los Picachos mountain range. The lack of vehicle access and sparse population in the mountains have preserved an exceptional biodiversity including hawks, rattlesnakes, white-tailed deer and mountain lions. Working from an intention to leave the landscape untouched, the foundation of the AD_036_114-121_Escape_Mountain retreats_11440461.indd 11613/12/2020 05:47:21 PM117 CLOCKWISE FROM FAR LEFT: The pool deck; a generous copper tub in the bathroom; the glass-walled bedroom overlooks the pool; the facade against the star-fi lled night sky; rough-luxe style in the living room; Prashant Ashoka; the kitchen. house was built entirely from rock collected off the mountain. The open-plan layout consists of two rectilinear volumes that merge at a 120-degree V-shaped intersection – drawing an angular likeness to a staggering ravine visible from the glass shower. From the central living space and bedroom, fl oor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors frame vistas of towering cliff s, and open out onto a pool deck shaded by olive and pomegranate trees. Inside, exposed ceiling beams and concrete walls give a laid-back feel and are complemented by furnishings in jute, leather, wood, stone and copper (used for the show-stopping bathtub beside the bed). Heavily inspired by the concept of ‘emotional architecture’ – coined by Mexican architect Luis Barragán and artist Mathias Goéritz – the house gleams like a phosphorescent blue-tinged box at fi rst light. And in the ombre hues of sunset the structure sits in the landscape like a mirage, before disappearing entirely. Alluding to this quality of the building, the name ‘Etérea’ translates from Spanish to ‘ethereal’, and suggests a nebulous, otherworldly vision. “Light becomes a structural element of this design, distorting the perspective of where the observer begins and the landscape ends,” says Ashoka. “I wanted this interplay of light and scale to evoke a deep sense of awe for the wild, and to beg questions about our role as stewards of our ecosystems.” Casa Etérea can be booked for upto two guests through Instagram @casa_eterea PH OTO : PR AS HANT AS H O K A AD_036_114-121_Escape_Mountain retreats_11440461.indd 11713/12/2020 05:47:51 PM“ This year, I learned the importance of appreciating the beauty of every little detail in our environment - CARL GERGES ” 118 - DR EA M TICK ET - AD_036_114-121_Escape_Mountain retreats_11440461.indd 11813/12/2020 05:49:23 PMIn Bhamdoun, Lebanon, architect Carl Gerges has built a guesthouse that seemlessly integrates with the landscape. AD_036_114-121_Escape_Mountain retreats_11440461.indd 11913/12/2020 05:49:40 PMCANA GUESTHOUSE A Lebanese bolthole embedded within ancient rock formations The entrance to Cana Guesthouse in the hilly Lebanese village of Bhamdoun is unassuming. A mosaic of grey and yellow limestone forms a retaining wall that connects to rock boulders. There are no windows on the side facing the village and nothing that suggests a warm welcome for weary travellers. But, of course, looks can be deceiving: upon entering this seemingly arid stone monolith, sunlight unexpectedly fl ows into a cosy cavern housing a living room and kitchen. Earth-coloured walls border pivoting glass panels, which slide open, instantly merging the indoors with the outdoors and capitalising on impressive views of the Vallée Lamartine. It’s the fi rst of a series of guesthouses that are planned on the site among the ancient rocks and vines, each unique and built around the topography and sitting lightly within it. “I really wanted to focus on the rock formation,” explains Carl Gerges, the architect behind the novel dwelling. “Every time I work on a new project, especially when it’s in nature, I spend a lot of time on site and try to highlight the beauty of the land and the natural world. I try to make minimal interventions on the landscape.” There are nods to the terrain inside, too; reclaimed timber beams are set in the concrete ceiling, while a humble fi replace and an assortment of nature-inspired oriental patterns (think leopard print seats and Moroccan rugs) add warmth to the living space. The rustic kitchen, meanwhile, invites gatherings around an island topped with a PH OTO : CAR L G E RG ES ; PE D R O HAS RO U N Y ( P O R TR AIT ) AD_036_114-121_Escape_Mountain retreats_11440461.indd 12013/12/2020 05:49:53 PMCLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: The rustic-chic kitchen; a fi re-pit for star-gazing; Carl Gerges; the verdant Tadelakt bathroom; the wild fl ower-dotted terrain conceals Pheonician tombs. OPPOSITE PAGE FROM BOTTOM: The discreet limestone facade merges with the hillside; the living room has furniture made by local artisans; the burgundy walled cellar. thick slab of eucalyptus. “I wanted the interiors to be really warm and comforting because the outside is so rough and violent – it’s just stone,” says Gerges, who worked with local craftspeople and materials wherever possible. The latter was as much to do with necessity as lofty ideals; much of the furniture for the project was destroyed in the Beirut blast and the devalution of Lebanon’s currency means importing materials has become wildly expensive. “This year, I faced the greatest set of collective challenges that taught me a number of valuable life lessons,” adds Gerges, “especially about the importance of appreciating the beauty of every little detail within our environment.” Despite the challenges, the interiors of Cana Guesthouse are a triumph. The open-plan bedroom and bathroom is a generously proportioned space with Tadelakt plaster forming the walls, basins, tub and wall niches. The virescence is accentuated with a profusion of plants, further blurring the boundaries between inside and out. “The idea was to feel as if you are bathing outdoors, so I tried to bring nature inside,” he explains. This tranquil escape is surrounded by vineyards and the guesthouse has a tunnel leading to a vaulted cellar that’s atmospherically lit by a circular skylight. Outside, a circular fi re pit sits at the foot of the massive rock formation – the perfect spot for star gazing at night. carlgerges.com 121 AD_036_114-121_Escape_Mountain retreats_11440461.indd 12113/12/2020 05:50:19 PMNext >