A favorite travel destination of luxury lifestyle blogs, Morocco is often described as a garden paradise or oasis amidst the desert sands surrounding it. This is often reflected in its architecture which is both unique, perfectly suited to its environment, and the inspiration behind Musée Yves Saint Laurent’s form and structure. Blending elements of cutting-edge aesthetics with tried-and-true construction methods that Moroccans have used for centuries, and the result is a distinctly modern work that straddles the ancient and the new, inviting guests to experience its exhibits inside while also edifying them about life, culture, and even a little bit of history what is perenially one of the world’s top luxury destination spots and a favorite for trendsetters and the old guard alike.
The design comes straight from Studio KO who also built the structure. With offices in Paris and Marrakech, Studio KO was uniquely positioned to bring this project to life and their expertise in these areas shines forth in the final product. Envisioned as a tribute to Yves Saint Laurent, it was commissioned by Madison Cox, spouse of the now-deceased co-founder of YSL, Pierre Bergé. A primary concern in designing the structure was that it not only conform to the general aesthetics of the surrounding city, but also that it incorporates sustainable practices and materials into its engineering.
To do this, the designers behind it used a novel if somewhat local solution involving Moroccan techniques specifically aimed at providing natural heating and cooling to a structure as well as using natural light to illuminate the interior. Aesthetically speaking, the Musée Yves Saint Laurent evokes the bricklaying design motifs found in the city’s oldest structures and integrates them fully into the museum’s persona such that it is both noticeable yet expected at the same time. Terracotta, earth, and concrete combine in a structure that is wholly modern yet totally owing to the not-so-distant past.
Offering over 41,500 square feet of exhibition space, the spaces inside are open and inviting, allowing for maximum circulation and a variety of display options for exhibits. Marble flooring and other stone elements recall the exterior while also tying the entire aesthetic to a kind of ancient past that is perfectly suited for a museum space. Visitors remark that, amidst so much stone, there is an ambiance of warmth and invitation that is unmistakable. Although the structure employs local design cues to maintain sustainability and aesthetic coherence, there are modern considerations at play as well.
Given the delicate nature of many of the textiles on display, the team behind the museum can’t wholly rely upon pragmatic, sustainable construction methods to keep the interior atmosphere at the right levels to preserve exhibits; hence, the museum employs one of the world’s most sophisticated air-conditioning systems which is specifically engineered to preserve the articles within the Musée Yves Saint Laurent. As a community gathering space, the museum also offers a range of public spaces, including an auditorium, for special presentations, exhibits, lectures, and performances.
Images courtesy of Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech
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