Latest news with #citycenter
Forbes
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Why Marrakech Should Be Top Of Design Lovers' Travel Bucket Lists
Marrakech's most aesthetically exquisite rental property opened this year, located just a short car ride outside the bustle of the city center. Manou Fatima Dozens of designers have dreamed over the colors, patterns and architecture that define Marrakech. These include the iconic French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and American interior designer Bill Willis. In the 1960s, the duo and their laid-back bohemian crowd roamed the streets and souks for inspiration. Today, the Moroccan city is still a treasure trove of maximalist design, unfettered by modern trends or homogenous international styles. Here's how to seek out a feast for the eyes in Marrakech this summer, visit Yves Saint Laurent's eye-popping garden inspiration, and sleep in sumptuous style in a newly-opened Bill Willis-designed property. The warren-like souks in the heart of the city are a mine of joyous, idiosyncratic design. While several stores and stalls have now popped up selling designer imitations and made-in-China mass-produced goods, real quality is still easy to find. A maze-like tangle of narrow alleyways that are shared by tourists/shoppers, bikes, motor bikes, donkeys and carts, lined with souks (markets) selling everything from glass to brass to silver, rugs and leather goods, spices galore and more getty Carpets are a must-have, and where better than the workshop favored by Yves Saint Laurent himself. Dar Haram Cheekh No. 17 is hidden down a dark passageway hung with rugs. In the dim interior, you pick your way between haphazardly stacked, floor-to-ceiling piles of carpets like a labyrinth. It's no hardship to while away a few hours here, sifting through the endless variety of material, texture and pattern. If you love bold color, make sure the gardens of Marrakech that Yves Saint Lauren described as 'an endless source of inspiration' are on your itinerary. Located in an elegant, residential area of the city, the Jardin Majorelle was created over the course of 40 years by French Orientalist artist Jacques Majorelle, starting in 1923. Majorelle conceived of this one-hectare walled oasis as a sanctuary and botanical 'laboratory', cramming it with exotic specimens from far-flung corners of the world. Located in an elegant, residential area of the city, the Jardin Majorelle was created over the course of 40 years. getty In 1980, Yves Saint Laurent and his business partner Pierre Bergé, who first arrived in Morocco in 1966, purchased the garden to save it from hotel developers. Now, it consists of a maze of pathways ensconced in foliage and a boldly-coloured Cubist villa designed by French architect Paul Sinoir in the 1930s. Sleep In A Bill Willis-Designed Dream Property Marrakech's most aesthetically exquisite rental property opened this year, located just a short car ride outside the bustle of the city center. Casa Memoria is a private oasis of refined Moorish architecture, botanical gardens, and quietly decadent living. The villa was designed by Tunisian architect Charles Boccara, who grew up in Morocco, and was finished by Bill Willis, an American aesthete who emigrated to Morocco. The Suite Ocre is filled with intricate Moroccan furnishings. Manou Fatima The six suites, lounges, dining room, courtyards, and pool house are all defined by Bocarra's architectural whimsy and the free-spirited elegance of Willis' interior design. The first-floor master Suite Royale is a lesson in opulence, with hand-sculpted ceilings, a majestic zellige fireplace, and a hammam-inspired emerald green bathing chamber. Next door is the optional adjoining Suite Jaune d'Or bathed in the golden tones of Marrakech's desert sands, where elephants march around ceilings in sculpted relief. The first-floor master Suite Royale is a lesson in opulence. Manou Fatima Downstairs, the Suite Ocre is another standout, steeped in a sensual delight of Oriental ruby tapestries, soft lighting and Berber-style Moroccan furnishings. French doors open onto the arcaded ochre-hued portico filled with wicker furniture and cascading greenery. Beyond it is a three-hectare haven of silvery olive trees, luxuriant Washingtonia palms, and lawns where peacocks wander freely. Across the garden, a pool and graceful pavilion are fringed by trees. French doors open onto the arcaded ochre-hued portico filled with wicker furniture and cascading greenery. Manou Fatima Guests rent out the full estate, which includes a dedicated majordomo, private chef, and housekeepers. The team can tailor meals according to guests' preferences, from sunrise breakfasts in the garden to intimate candlelit dinners. They can also throw lavish parties with DJs and fire dancing, organize excursions into the desert for camel rides or quadbiking, and book yoga and stretching sessions in the grounds.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Dozens injured in UK after driver runs through crowd celebrating Liverpool win
Dozens of people were injured after a car drove through a crowd in England celebrating the Liverpool Football Club's Premier League title. David Kitchen of the North West Ambulance Service said at a press conference that 27 individuals in total were taken to the hospital for their injuries, including two with serious injuries, while 20 others were treated at the scene for minor injuries and didn't require hospitalization. Police said a 53-year-old white British man has been arrested following the incident, but they asked the public not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding the incident as extensive investigations are underway to learn more. Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Simms of the Merseyside Police said they received reports just after 6 p.m. local time as the parade celebrating the victory was ending that a car collided with multiple pedestrians in the city center. She said specialist officers have been made available for the injured and their families. Kitchen said four of the injured are children. Simms said authorities believe the 53-year-old man to be the driver of the vehicle and this to be an isolated incident. She said they're not searching for anyone else in connection with it, and it's not currently being treated as an act of terrorism. 'My thoughts are with all those injured in tonight's horrific incident, their families and friends, and all those affected by the terrible tragedy that has taken place today,' Simms said. 'I want to thank all the emergency services, partner agencies and members of the public who came to the assistance of the injured following this evening's shocking events.' Liverpool City Council member Liam Robinson said officials are working closely with the police in the investigation and reiterated calls on people not to speculate about the motives behind the incident and allow the police to conduct their inquiry. 'Liverpool is a city that has a proud history of coming together and supporting each other during challenging times,' Robinson said. 'I've no doubt that will again be the case over the coming days and weeks.' The BBC reported that eyewitnesses said the car hit a group of people before speeding up and then stopping. A BBC reporter said a group of men were running after the car trying to bang on the side of it. Another witness told the outlet the driver was beeping as he went through the crowd. United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the scene 'appalling' in a post on X and said his thoughts are with all who were injured or affected. 'I want to thank the police and emergency services for their swift and ongoing response to this shocking incident,' he said. 'I'm being kept updated on developments and ask that we give the police the space they need to investigate.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CTV News
26-05-2025
- CTV News
Man detained after reports that car hit crowds at Liverpool's title parade
British police said they were responding to reports of a car hitting a 'number of pedestrians' during soccer side Liverpool's Premier League title celebrations in the city center on Monday. An unverified video on social media purporting to show the incident showed a large grey car driving into large crowds of fans lining the street, at one point appearing to swerve away from the most densely crowded area. Large numbers of police surrounded the vehicle shortly afterwards. Some people were pictured lying in the road. Police said in a statement that the car had stopped at the scene and a male had been detained. 'Emergency services are currently on the scene,' they said. A Reuters photographer said multiple ambulances were in the street, with a tent erected by nearby fire engines.
