Internationally renowned designer Yves Saint Laurent had a love affair with Morocco that extended beyond Marrakech and resulted in the purchase of several properties in the North African country. One of these was Villa Mabrouka dubbed the “House of Luck”. Villa Mabrouka is set within one of Tangier’s most coveted clifftop neighborhoods. In 2014, the New York Times estimated the value of the property to be worth over $10 million USD.
In March 2019, the nonprofit Jardin Majorelle Foundation announced that the villa was sold to English designer Jasper Conran. “All the revenue will go to the maintenance and development of the Yves Saint Laurent Museum, Jardin Majorelle, Amazigh Berber Museum, and relevant cultural programming.”
Villa Mabrouka was a special project for Yves Saint Laurent. It was the property that Laurent curated to be his most “restful, open, and happy environment,” reported Alberto Pinto, the villa’s interior designer. It was important for Yves to have his space reflect the essence of the authentic Moroccan style. He hired renowned American Landscape Architect, Madison Cox, to create beautiful space terraces that were planted with vines, bougainvillea, lemon trees, roses, and hollyhocks. They requested the help of decorator Jacque Grange for the interior.
Conran was especially drawn to Villa Mabrouka’s mesmerizing beauty and location The hotelier is known for his dramatic and chic taste in womenswear in impeccable taste design. In 2016, he purchased L’Hotel in Marrakech, a 19th-century riad part of a Caidal palace, comprising of five spacious suites surrounding a courtyard garden and swimming pool. This charming retreat combines delicious food, great comfort, and service whilst capturing the elegance of hotels of the 1930s. Similar to Villa Mabrouka, Conran’s Marrakech based riad combines beautiful Moroccan craftsmanship with antique furniture, textiles, and artwork.