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JNANE EL HARTI
French Protectorate
Between 1912 and 1956 France controlled most
of Morocco, and colonialists brought with them
elements of the European lifestyle, including villa
gardens. Jardin Majorelle, perhaps the most
famous of these, was created, demonstrating
the passion for exotica that gripped this
community. Famous for its cobalt blue
paintwork, this little masterpiece was later saved
from destruction by Yves Saint Laurent and his
partner Pierre Bergé. The couturier loved it so
much he requested that it be his final resting
place, and there is a memorial there today.
Also thriving under the colonial influence,
public parks were transformed by tree-lined
avenues, swathes of lawn, playgrounds and
bandstands, all touched with a certain
orientalism. George Orwell mentions feeding
the gazelles at the newly created Jnane el Harti
(
above)
when writing
Coming Up for Air
.
Mixing Gallic style with Moroccan ideas, this
centrally located park has an enduring
popularity, only strengthened by a 2002 facelift
by landscape architect Souad Belkziz, which
saw the addition of ornamental grasses, and a
nod to the countryside around the city in
boulder-strewn displays of cacti.
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