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Deep in the Old Medina

J-L Raynaud and Kenyon Kramer riyad in Marrakech

Stepping through an old carved wooden door, deep in the medina of Marrakesh, a mysterious shadowy world of passages, hidden lives and birdsong the journey suddenly opens up into a marble courtyard, gardens, sunlight, the sounds of water and a myriad assault on one's senses. Life in the medina is all about light and shade, private and public space and a powerful sense of peace amid the outside chaos. This particular journey began when Provence-based Jean-Louis Raynaud and his design partner, American Kenyon Kramer were invited by their client Ridley Scott to visit him on the Moroccan film-set of 'Gladiator'. It was the beginning of an adventure that lead the duo to buy and restore this extraordinary 19C riyad and to their work on the largest private restoration ever undertaken in old Marrakesh. Some 4,000 square meters of the Palais Layadi for the Schwazenbach family. Although built by a Moroccan, the right-hand man to El-Glaoui, the inspiration for this riyad came from the later period of the French Protectorate (1912-55) - Raynaud imagined the house as that of a well-travelled diplomat who brought a mixture of furniture and art with him from France, Italy, England and India. The house was to have an authentic charm rather than pure decoration. There are hundreds of restored riyads in Marrakesh but few if any impart the magic atmosphere and ambiance of former times as this exceptional creation by 2 men who are masters of their craft.