The Berber Lodge, Outer Marrakesh
Back in November, not knowing where to travel but looking for a bit of R&R, I reached out to Gestalen’s ‘Bon Voyage - Boutique Hotels for the Conscious Traveler’; a beautiful book, for some visual inspiration. I had put this book to one-side after initially pouring through its pages as the places featured are not the most budget-friendly. However, after a long-weekend getaway penciled in the diary rapidly approaching, it was time to make some decisions when I spotted the Berber Lodge. A place I’d previously heard about through a friend, it fitted the eco-credentials, R&R, and that we could combine a few nights here with a more local stay.
The Berber lodge was the perfect balance of local & luxury. With a material palette, which pretty much took my full attention for the time I was there. Traditional Moroccan materials reed and sisal matting paired with African artifacts and French antique furniture. The balance of rough and smooth plasters internally and externally against the beautifully imperfect brick floor from local pink clay, eucalyptus wood beams, and palm-thatched roofs. The construction all using traditional Berber techniques. The main lodge and surrounding lodges open out to the central garden amongst an olive grove. These olive trees were being harvested at our visit, filling the place with noises of leaves being shaken, and quilting the dusty pink walkways with hundreds of olives. The gardens include aromatic herb gardens and organic vegetables which feed the kitchen menus.
The photos show a snapshot and visual diary of this captivating place and its many enchanting corners. Photos courtesy of Romain & the Berber Lodge © Chidley Brogan.
