 |
History & Architecture | |
The spirit of the house | |
Location |
The spirit of the house
An authentic mansion whose original structure has been scrupulously preserved andwhich has been restored using the traditional techniques.
Different form a hotel, a real “home away from home” which has kept its character of private residence with a unique soul that inspires peace and harmony.
Where staff members go above and beyond to cultivate the art of Moroccan hospitality based on a foundation of passion, loyalty, discretion and humility.
Where everyone shares the same goal - to ensure the satisfaction and enjoyment of each guest.
Environmental friendly
When converting Riyad El Mezouar into a boutique hotel, we attempted to preserve the character of the original residence.
Minimal changes were made to the XVII-XVIIIth century building in order to turn it into a boutique hotel. Rooms were kept or restored to their traditional size and layout. Traditional construction methods were employed. Whenever possible, local and natural materials were used and local labour was employed.
We avoided synthetic finishes and resins. We use natural wax to maintain the handmade terracotta tiles which cover all the floors of the house and the tadelakt of the bathrooms.
We felt that the know how of ancient builders (thick brick and mud walls, galeries protecting from direct sun rays) was enough to keep the house cool during the warm season and chose to eschew environmentally unfriendly anachronisms like air conditioning.
Because water is an essential resource in Morocco, we fit all our taps and showers with water flow restrictors.
Moreover, with only 5 rooms, we have 5 staff, all employed permanently, all registered with social services and private insurance and paid above the average. Although the hotel business is known to be highly seasonal, we do not have part time and short term employees. This way, we intend to support the personal growth of our employees in the disruptive of local life context of the fast development of Marrakech.
Finally, as a small 5 rooms boutique hotel, the negative environmental impact of Riyad el Mezouar is moderate.
