Villa Marrakesh echoes famous monuments
In spirit of Taj Mahal and Alhambra Palace, husband built wife villa
It may not be everyone’s cup of Maghrebi mint tea, but there’s no question the ornate-in-the-extreme Villa Marrakesh is a wonder to behold.
The lavish Moroccan estate, a replica of the ancient Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain, boasts 13.7-metre chiselled cedar ceilings, intricate mosaic tilework and metre-thick stone walls.
It took 1,300 craftsmen three years to complete the villa, a gift from a connoisseur of art and architecture to his wife.
Its inspiration echoes that of India’s famed Taj Mahal, whose creation had been born of the love Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
Some 20,000 workers took about 20 years to build the 17th-century marble monument, now one of the New7Wonders of the World.
The couple behind the inception of Villa Marrakesh had fallen in love with Alhambra Palace’s beauty and, serendipitously, happened to find the plans for the Andalusian architectural masterpiece in a second-hand bookshop in London, England.
They wanted to build their version in Spain but couldn’t find the right experts, so instead chose the enchanting city of Marrakech, according to real-estate broker Marc Leon.
In order to accurately recreate the Alhambra, they took pictures of the design and decor, says Leon, of Kensington International, which is listing the property in partnership with Christie’s International Real Estate.
Granada’s Alhambra, which means “red castle,” had originally been a military fortress that became a royal residence in the 13th century. It was abandoned and partially destroyed centuries later but rebuilt and restored in the 1800s.
The original architects’ aim was to cover every space and surface with decoration, resulting in exquisite carvings, rich ceramics and ornate plasterwork.
Completed about 20 years ago, Villa Marrakesh is similarly dressed to the gilt, but also boasts modern conveniences, such as radiant heating in the floors.
Set on 4.6 hectares in the heart of a palm grove, the palace has merged into the surrounding vegetation, leaving the impression that it’s been there for centuries, Leon says.
The gardens have been given the same careful attention as the interior, with features that include marble fountains and palm tree paths bordering ornamental lakes.
The pathways create geometric patterns, which separate the bamboo forest and orange, rose and cactus gardens.
Designed for entertaining and hospitality, the massive residence includes an outdoor kitchen, indoor swimming pool and eight servants’ rooms.
While Shah Jahan had no hesitation in letting the world know about the architectural marvel he erected in memory of his wife, the builder of Villa Marrakesh prefers to stay out of the spotlight, Leon says.
“The owner wishes to remain unknown,” he says.
“He is an art lover and has built some other palaces around the world.”
Beyond that, the homeowners remain a mystery.