The Riyad Maroc is a large Moroccan Riyad of elegant proportions, lovingly restored over the course of a year and a half and creatively interpreted for modern living using all traditional materials. Build in1940, this traditional Riyad is a spacious self-contained world that accommodates 6 as of September 2000 and will accommodate 8 upon the completion of the balcony-level suite in October 2000. Its large central courtyard of white marble and blue mosaic is circled by 12 mosaic-encrusted pillars and surrounded on all sides by a second-floor balcony. The balcony creates spacious galleries on the second floor. The expansive roof terrace offers a striking view of the hillsides of Fez and a roof-top tent.
The Traditional Courtyard and Grand Salon
The expansive marble courtyard is studded with mosaic and wrought iron tables and is filled with brilliant light by day, creating a relaxing private inside patio. The house is dramatically lit at night, accenting the carved plaster arches atop the mosaic columns and throwing dramatic shadows into the arcades. The Grand Salon is a large welcoming room with an exceptional vaulted ceiling completely painted with intricate decorative detail and an excellent small library of books on Fez. The Grand Salon contains both a traditional Moroccan low table and an antique Western dining table for inside dining.
Each Bedroom is a Unique Experience
Two master bedrooms on the ground floor each have 25-foot ceilings and exceptional mosaic extending six feet up the wall. The master bedrooms give onto the central courtyard through 12-foot high keyhole doors of lustrous carved wood. The master bedrooms have free-standing wood stoves to warm guests in winter, double beds and a private desk and sitting area. The one small bedroom on the second floor is itself an intimate treat and looks into the courtyard. Two additional master bedrooms on the second floor - each of a comparable stature as those on the ground floor - will be completed in the fall of 2000.
Full Kitchen with all Modern Amenities
The Riad has a charming and simple full kitchen with black marble counter tops and all modern amenities and appliances, including a dishwasher and a coffeemaker.
Three Designer Bathrooms Contain Artful Surprises
The Riyad's three full designer bathrooms were created in perfect balance with traditional materials and all amenities, and include artful surprises: a faucet made from the spout of a teapot, antique shower heads, and lustrous walls of tadelakt. One has a hammered brass sink, and another a clawfoot bathtub.
Location in the Fez Medina
The Riyad is located along the southern side of the Medina, along the walls of the Old City, giving it an exceptional view. It is a ten-minute walk from the taxi stand at Batha, a very convenient entrance to the Medina. You can also take a taxi directly to the front door or park your own car just outside, an unusual convenience to find in a house genuinely situated in the Medina of Fez.
The Restoration of the Riyad Maroc
The restoration of the Riyad Maroc began in 1998, and took a year and a half. A large portion of the painted wood ceiling above the balcony had collapsed and the entire roof was replaced before the construction could begin. The restoration of the wood paneling alone took four men six months of painstaking sanding and cleaning. Each of the 12-foot doors was removed, cleaned and oiled. A labor of love for the owner and his family, the house has been returned to its original condition and is a gaily-lit and welcoming home on the ramparts of the Fez Medina.
