"The Worlds Most Iconic Garden In 1923, the artist Jacques Majorelle acquired a four-acre plot of land just outside the center of Marrakech . Inspired by numerous travels around the country to paint scenes of village life, and funded by painting more illustrious portraits such asthat of Pasha Thami el Glaoui, Majorellewas able to build a small studio and house, with enough land to indulge his other passion: ethnobotany. As his career grew, he added a splendid villa, and the garden took on a life of its own, featuring innumerable exotic species from around the world; he added pools and fountains, and, of course, the now iconic, eye-popping Majorelle blue that was lavished on the architecture. The propertybecame so expensive to maintain that the artistwas forced to open it to the public until his death in Paris in 1962. The garden gradually fell into a state of disrepair and was slated for development by a hotel chain until French designerYves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé happened upon it during one of their many trips to the Red City. In 1980, they decided to buy it and restore it to its former glory, adding irrigation and doubling the number of plants and gardeners to look after it. They moved into the villa and set about transforming other buildings into what is now thelegendary Berber Museum and a boutique. The latter isespecially noteworthy for creative director Stephen di Renza’s commitment to reflecting Majorelle’s lesser-known passionfor the decorative arts (which is manifest in the exquisite artisanal pieces, leather goods, and jewelry) and Saint Laurent's inspired use oftraditional Moroccan dress,such asthe kaftan and djellaba, in haute couture fashion."
