MAGIC OF MOROCCO
An artistic French couple fell in love with Morocco and were determined to preserve the striking original features of their exotic townhouse
AN ARTISTIC FRENCH COUPLE WERE DETERMINED TO PRESERVE THE STRIKING ORIGINAL FEATURES OF THEIR EXOTIC MARRAKECH TOWNHOUSE
Morocco has long appealed to creatives, adventurers and designers, thanks largely to its rich heritage and history combined with its modern galleries and restaurants. When French couple Cyrielle Rigot and Julien Tang visited the North African country for the first time in 2010, it was a clear case of love at first sight. Initially captivated by the light, which appealed to photographer Cyrielle, the pair spent the next four years visiting as often as possible. “We travelled through the entire country by car or motorcycle,” says Julien, an artistic director. “We used to come regularly on holidays and it became almost an obvious decision for us to settle here, despite us not knowing another person living here!”
The couple initially bought, restored and lived in an old riad, transforming it into an engaging guest house. “We carefully renovated the entire property, while taking care to preserve its historical heritage, with the aim of providing a sense of traditional Morocco,” explains Julien. Their new home has a similarly authentic vibe, with Moroccan ornamentation forming a lavish backdrop to simple furniture pieces and art, including framed prints of Cyrielle’s work. “Our decorating aesthetic is based on simplicity and sincerity,” says Julien. “Fashion has taught us a sense of detail, the harmony of colours, and how to mix fabrics – it helped us create a place that feels like our own little universe.”
Why did you make the move to Marrakech? We left Paris in search of a place we could call home, a place that looked like us. [We wanted] a laboratory for our creations and our desires. We were hoping to find a more authentic life, simplicity and exoticism, and we chose Marrakech for its magical vibe.
Was it a challenge for you to find the perfect home? After months of research and visits through the maze that is the Marrakech medina we found, tucked away in a discreet passageway, a refuge of peace and inspiration. We pushed open its two grand cedar doors and that led us to the sumptuous and intimate place we are happy to call home. Here, organic elements and ornamentations come together in the most authentic expression of Moroccan architecture. Magic unravels. Time stops.
What were your influences when it came to decorating?
We love to mix vintage elements with a touch of exoticism or varied forms and materials, for an eye-catching effect. Our goal was to achieve a timeless quality that we reinterpreted with elegant interiors and juxtaposing stylistic periods. How did you source all the beautiful homewares for the different spaces?
We like to travel and walk around the medina to scout for objects, handicrafts and antiques. We draw our inspiration from art, design, fashion and designers like Bill Willis, Le Corbusier, Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand, Vincenzo de Cotiis and Madeleine Castaing. A lot of the Moroccan furniture was custom-made or they were pieces we discovered in the country. Most of our furniture and décor items have been picked up from the flea markets around Marrakech and from the different craftsmen we work with. The careful placement of all objects and materials creates a soulful, thought-provoking sophistication that redefines luxury. Cyrielle’s artwork – analog pictures taken during our many trips in the country – is also featured throughout.
What do you love about living in Marrakech? We love the creative freedom that living here provides us – we have control of our time and energy. The diversity of landscapes never stops inspiring us, and meeting different people from all over the world is something we will always enjoy. How do you like to spend your time when you’re at home? Since the arrival of our son Nino, we have learnt to share our time with him and it’s absolutely delicious. We love spending our spare time reading and painting. Do you think this will be your forever home?
We are always in search of new challenges and we keep renovating properties as we also have an interior styling studio called Rigotang. We are looking for another place to renovate in the countryside of Marrakech, too – an old and traditional farm. To see Cyrielle and Julien’s work at Rigotang, visit rigotang.com.