I had been invited to visit L’Amandier for about three months and finally got there last Sunday. And now I wonder…why did it take me so long ? Just the thrill of leaving behind  the chaos of Marrakech gives you such a wonderful feeling of freedom that is hard to explain. It is just outside the red city that the excitement of the journey begins. The road to Tahannout is a fantastic feast for the senses. The harmony you find in the man-made red villages as a continuation of the earthy hills really inspires an admiration for this land; its humble people waving at you while passing by on the roads makes you feel really special somehow. And then the purity of the air…this is one of the things that strike you the first when you open the car’s window. Fresh air at last! Leaving behind the polluted city is just a fantastic start of the journey. I can tell you know that our souls were extremely grateful and happy for such a magnificent Sunday treat.

As we got closer to the Ouirgane Valley we were surrounded by hills that seemed to embrace you in a romantic dance with nature. I felt so at peace somehow; a feeling of being in the right place….and all of a sudden, the smell of pine trees took  me back to my childhood  in Spain. We were approaching the raised plateau where the construction of the villas is taking place and it is just as you arrive there that you perceive the magnitude of the location. There is a 360 degree view to take your breath away and, as you walk around the site, you feel like you are in the center of the world; it was amazing!

I loved the architectural simplicity of the villas. I find the fusion of Beldi (traditional) and modern minimalism to be a strong theme in this development, adding great value to the extraordinary views.  The inside design of the villas flow smoothly and features such as the water pool in the hallway of the 3-bed villas seem in balance with the rest of the rooms; it feels natural and harmonious. And one of the strongest points for me is the top terrace.  I could spend hours up there; looking at the  almond valley at the front and then turning to meet the view of the emerald Ouirgane lake.   It is dreamy.

It was at that point I think, when I was admiring the view from the terrace, that I felt I should buy one… why not?   The only thing I need to do is to come up with the money. This is probably the house that I have always dreamt of having. Just there, right in the middle of the Atlas Mountains… a dream waiting to come true.

Maria Bazan

Related posts:

1. My first trip to the site (I get to see what all the fuss is about)
2. La Barrage de Ouirgane – Yacoub el Mansour
3. Architect site visit (11 Feb)