Our Story
Built in the 1920s as a lobster depot, the house that is now home to Palais Rhoul is Dakhla’s oldest residence, set on a rocky promontory at the water’s edge, with the lagoon at its feet.
"Aerial view, the 1920s"
The place felt immediately right, a love-at-first-sight encounter that marked the beginning of a complete rebirth. Over eight years, a demanding restoration took shape, made more complex by the rocky foundations and full southern exposure. From here, the eye travels towards the desert, with the lagoon in the foreground and no overlooking neighbours.
Craftsmen from across Morocco contributed to this transformation: carpenters, zellige artisans, ironworkers and plasterers. Some of the hand-carved plasterwork required a master craftsman to remain on site for eight months, working centimetre by centimetre. The stones were brought in from the desert, nearly 230 kilometres away, one by one. Many are fossilised and hold within them several million years of history.
Inside, some rooms rise to more than eight metres beneath the ceiling, creating 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, acknowledged Asian influences, artworks and objects found at auction houses, pieces passed down from generation to generation, and creations by Moroccan and African artists: each element contributes to a singular whole.
From this patient work emerged 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 its 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
