Dar Zahia, Taroudant hidden gem
Discovering Dar Zahia
Dar Zahia, located within Taroudant's historical walls, is an astonishing adobe house totally hidden in a maze of little streets. Behind an unassuming door, a unique and tactfully decorated little heaven will await.
The guesthouse was designed and built by Marc Belli, a true artist who worked as a graphic designer, art director, photographer, and landscaper. Marc worked with well-known companies, but Dar Zahia, is without a doubt, his crowning achievement. Marc had envisioned this location as a refuge of tranquility, a place to breathe, and, most importantly, a place to connect with nature.
The house
The house has four bedrooms and two large suites with views of the courtyard. Each bedroom is distinct from the others, with a carefully designed interior. Marc approaches everything he does with an aesthetic eye and pays meticulous attention to detail. The space is decorated with a combination of Moroccan elements and vintage items from other places, making it one-of-a-kind.
According to the anecdote, Marc and his wife were invited to Taroudant in 2002 by two landscaper friends, Eric Ossart and Arnaud Maurières. They fell in love with Taroudant and decided to create Dar Zahia, a guesthouse named after Marc's wife. The house was partly in ruin and needed significant renovation. After working on a 3D paper model, they began restoring the place with the help of 20 workers.
Building Dar Zahia
The walls are made of adobe, a material often used in Berber dwellings throughout the region. Terracotta bricks and argan wood were also used to give the area a rusty-chic appearance. The flooring is covered in Bejmat tiles, which are often seen in Morocco and are typically made in Fes. Belli has a keen eye for combining and harmonising various interior and aesthetic elements.
A mystical garden
Apart from art and architecture, the plants may pique one's interest. Most of the plants were sourced from France, Marrakech, and Agadir. For this reason, Marc filled the home with Jasmine, Bellotti Passion flowers, and one of our favorites, Moonflowers, to enjoy a variety of floral fragrances throughout the day.
Dar Zahia is a site everyone needs to experience and feel. Here, we coexist with nature. This hidden gem helps us to calm down and appreciate life in a very simple way - which our bodies and minds require on a regular basis. We hope everyone will get a chance to appreciate this ethereal beauty.
