Rock the Kasbah
A citadel constructed by Sultan Yacoub El Mansour in the 12th century to protect his palace, Maison Mnabha in Marrakesh’s historic Kasbah, is an eclectic property in a city of contrasts.
The Kasbah remains a royal quarter of palaces and monuments. One of its best known residents was Yves Saint Laurent, who set a precedent with the taste and flair with which he decorated his house. Artists, writers and actors subsequently established themselves in the old city. The Hermés family and Jean-Paul Gaultier keep houses here to this day.
Maison Mnabha was bought by its present owners (two brothers; one of them, Dr. Peter Dyer, holds a PhD on the Kasbah and is a fountain of local knowledge) in the early 1990s and painstakingly renovated. It was one of the few properties in the medina to have retained its original decorative features. Separated from the now-defunct women’s quarters, the hotel’s salon was used for the reception of guests by the house’s original owners, who were members of the ruling elite at the Sultan’s court.
The aim of the current owners at Maison Mnabha is to conserve the original features of the house and create a comfortable and calm family-run environment. Guests tend to be people searching for cultural pursuits away from the sterility of oversized five-star hotels; many are female, either travelling on 
their own, or in small groups. Though most hotel staff in Marrakesh speak only French and Arabic, those at Maison Mnabha communicate in a variety of languages – a delight for many Southeast Asian visitors.
The decoration of the formal rooms (four doubles/twin and one single) at Maison Mnabha reflects a traditional palace architecture that developed independently of neighbouring influences. Ceramic mosaics, carved stucco and painted wood have been integrated into an overall surface design rich in colour and bold in conception. The 17th to 19th-century decoration here is characteristic of the palace style but intimate and domestic in scale.
The upper patio, terraces (which offer views of a minaret-studded horizon and the Atlas Mountains) and bedrooms have been remodelled to synthesise traditional Moroccan elements with those of Southeast Asian (Buddha heads, Laotian silks) and African design. Antiques, collected by the owners over many years, are everywhere. In terms of value for money, attention to detail, cultural interest and personalised service, there is no better place to stay in Marrakesh.
Maison Mnabha 32-33, Derb Mnabha Kasbah, Marrakesh, Morocco Tel: + 212 (0) 4438 1325 [email protected], or visit http://www.maisonmnabha.com/ Rates from USD 113. Free wireless high-speed internet and fax facilities available.
By Ben Gillingham
Courtesy of lifestyleandtravel.com
