Built in 1916, the house that is now home to Palais Rhoul is the oldest house in Dakhla, once a lobster trading post, set on a rocky promontory at the water’s edge, with the lagoon at its feet.
The place was discovered as something obvious, an immediate coup de cœur that marked the beginning of a complete rebirth. Over eight years, a demanding restoration took shape, made delicate by the rocky foundations and the full southern exposure. From here, the eye travels towards the desert, the sea and the lagoon in the foreground, with no overlooking neighbours.
Craftsmen from across Morocco took part in the transformation: woodworkers, zellige artisans, ironworkers and plaster masters. Some of the hand-carved plaster frescoes required the presence of a master craftsman for eight months, worked centimetre by centimetre. The stones were brought in from the desert, nearly 230 kilometres away, one by one. Many are fossilised and carry within them several million years of history.
Inside, certain rooms rise to more than eight metres in height, offering rare volumes where light moves freely. The decoration tells the story of a journey, and of a life. Fabrics sourced in Morocco, Italy and France, assumed Asian influences, artworks and objects found in auction houses, pieces passed down from generation to generation, creations by Moroccan and African artists: each element contributes to a singular atmosphere. Some master paintings date back three centuries, while others were born from contemporary encounters.
From this patience came a house that is both historic and alive, turned towards nature and the lagoon, where the soul of the place enters into dialogue with the hands of the craftsmen.
“I wanted to make this house what it had always been without knowing it: a refuge for those looking for something else. Not the luxury of display, but the luxury of space, of time rediscovered, and of the rare. Here, you are not far away. You are somewhere else.”
Fanny Rhoul
