Marrakech’s Riad Renaissance: A 15th -Century Gem is Reborn as Riad Sa’eed

By Liza Foreman

MARRAKECH – In the labyrinthine heart of Marrakech’s ancient Medina, a remarkable transformation is taking place.

Three adjacent riads, with sections dating back to the 15th -and 16th centuries, are being meticulously restored, promising to offer travelers an authentic glimpse into Morocco’s rich architectural heritage while delivering modern luxury.

“We fell in love with Marrakech’s enchanting and magical spirit,” says Tim Antal, who, along with his partner Haynes Wheeler, is breathing new life into this historic property.

The duo, both semi-retired and with impressive professional backgrounds, are creating a boutique hotel that celebrates traditional Moroccan craftsmanship. The day TVF took a peak a dozen artisans were working around the clock.

Wheeler brings 25 years of design experience from New York City, where his firm created bespoke furniture for high-profile clients.

Antal spent most of his career in international luxury real estate development and sales. He also spent several years in the marine industry where he managed the development and sales of superyacht marinas and boat slips. Working throughout the British West Indies, St. Barts and the Bahamas, he developed an extensive worldwide network of partnerships and highnet networth individuals and partner companies, taking in the US, Canada,the Middle East, Brazil, India, China, Russia and Europe.

Their combined expertise is evident in every meticulous detail of their Marrakech project.

Set to open in February 2025, the riad is a testament to local artisanal skills. Every detail has been carefully considered, from hand-carved jibs (intricate plasterwork) to custom-made zellij tiles and bespoke fixtures. “Some of the work is incredibly expensive,” Antal explains. “We’ve had artisans spend weeks carving a single wall, with generations of craftsmanship behind them.”

The property will feature eight rooms, each with its own fireplace, and is being transformed at a cost of several million dollars. This includes not just renovation, but also preserving the building’s original character. Walls dating back centuries are being carefully worked around, with modern amenities like Wi-Fi, security cameras, and a sophisticated HVAC system seamlessly integrated.

Their design philosophy is decidedly traditional. “This riad will be completely Moroccan,” Antal emphasizes. “When you stay here, you will feel like you are in Marrakech, in Morocco.” This approach stands in contrast to many other renovations where owners import design aesthetics from New York, Miami, or European cities.

The transformation is comprehensive. The couple has uncovered and restored original architectural elements, including intricate woodwork and hand-carved details. A Berber-style wooden ceiling, which took artisans weeks to complete, will be a centerpiece of the interior design. Local craftsmen, some from families with generations of artisanal expertise, are bringing the space to life.

Marrakech’s hospitality landscape is experiencing a remarkable renaissance, with several notable developments complementing this exciting new addition.

Opened earlier this year and housing a stand out art collection and exquisite modern design rooms, Izza Marrakech is attracting design-conscious travelers, while the new Park Hyatt Marrakech expands the city’s luxury offerings drawing travelers out of town to the Park Hyatt’s first outpost in Morocco opened this summer.

Sitting at the foot of the Atlas mountains, the 19 acre Park Hyatt resort is surrounded by olive groves and jacaranda trees and situated 9 KM from Marrakech.

It’s hard to beat from its gourmet food the team took a year refining, to art created by a year-long residency to decorate the luxurious resort that is perfectly landscaped around three pools and a spa some call the best in Marrakech. Service is top as are touches in the rooms like a Japanese toilet and impeccable round the clock service.

Back in the city itself lies the dreamy Four Seasons Resort Marrakech, situated near the new luxury M Avenue shopping and real estate development. M Avenue offers some of the most expensive real estate in the city, including Four Seasons homes.

The Four Seasons resort has been undertaking significant upgrades and the results include its gorgeous high-end Arabian rooms dotted around its magnificent property of pools, restaurants and tennis courts.

The Pestana hotel, part of Cristiano Ronaldo’s hospitality venture, has also been making waves nearby. Located at the other end of M Avenue, the hotel showcases elegant contemporary design that pays homage to local craftsmanship. The rooms are immaculate.

Still, what sets Antal and Wheeler’s project apart is their commitment to preserving local heritage while providing contemporary comfort and the effort going into the restoration.

The riad features a traditional courtyard with citrus trees and a central water fountain, alongside modern amenities like a spa room, pool, and carefully curated artwork. They’ve sourced unique pieces, including a bronze sculpture discovered at a local flea market, that will add character to the space.

The property will be available through booking platforms and specialized rental agencies, with the owners themselves planning to spend significant time on-site to ensure every detail meets their exacting standards.

The renovation process has been extensive. They’ve dug up sewers three feet down, run new pipes through walls that are 18 to 24 inches thick, and carefully preserved original architectural elements. Every decision is made with thoughtful consideration of both historical authenticity and modern comfort.

The location itself is part of the magic. As Antal describes it, Marrakech is a city of extraordinary contrasts: “You’ll see a Rolls-Royce go by, and right behind it, a man with a donkey cart and chickens. It’s a true representation of life from every economic and social scale.”

The couple’s approach extends beyond mere renovation. They’re committed to capturing the essence of Marrakech – its warmth, its diversity, and its incredible craftsmanship. “The people here are amazing,” Antal notes. “Whether someone is driving a Rolls-Royce or driving a donkey cart, they’re all just happy to have you here and want you to love their country as much as they do.”

As Marrakech continues to evolve, properties like this riad demonstrate the city’s unique ability to honor its past while embracing the future. For design lovers, cultural enthusiasts, and luxury travelers, this new addition promises to be a must-visit destination – a true testament to the enduring magic of Moroccan hospitality.

“We’re not just creating a hotel,” Antal says. “We’re preserving a piece of Moroccan heritage and sharing it with the world,” says Antal.

Visitors could spend a lifetime exploring Marrakech’s rich selection of gem-like places to stay.

Created by Swiss banker Laurent Cohen to include sublime grounds planted from scratch on what was an arid patch of land, designer dwellings, decorated and themed around music personalities, and a fully-equipped music studio, performance spaces, a restaurant, pool and private villas, The Source is music retreat just 15 minutes from the city and airport.

Recently reopened post earthquake renovations, meanwhile, Kasbah Tamadot in Asni is a villa to luxury tent retreat nestled in the Atlas Mountains around an hour from Marrakech. Owned by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Limited Edition, this property, purchased by Branson in 1998, has been meticulously restored and transformed into a world-class boutique hotel that blends traditional Moroccan architecture with contemporary luxury. It reopened in October.

Set at an elevation of 1,200 meters, the kasbah offers views of the surrounding mountains and features 28 individually designed rooms and suites, many decorated with antiques collected by Branson’s mother during her travels.

Totally off the beaten track, meanwhile, is Farasha Farmhouse developed by the fabulous Marrakech-based events organizers, Fred and Rosena Charmoy.

Built in a former artist’s residence, set in acres of farmland reached down a remote dirt track, it offers four super funky rooms in the former art studios, and hospitality areas offering unique architectural and design sensations and home grown food to eat by the fireplace. The pool is surrounded by olive trees. The stars can be viewed over drinks from the roof camp.

There is something for everyone in Marrakech.

Meanwhile, with its fine dining options, excellent spa, individual villas with pools, and extensive spaces set between numerous larger pools and lanes of stand alone villas, the Aman hotel group’s Amanjena hotel offers a palatial luxury formula for discrete travelers, and a quiet space to retreat to. After two hours in their spa, my hair has never been better, and a day lounging between the villas with chez lounge and private pools is to die for.

Finally a trip to a land of nomads would not be complete without a stop at one or both of Caravan by Habitas luxury glamping location in the Agafay desert, an hour from Marrakech, and in Dakhla 18 hours south in the Western Sahara.

Dakhla is rumored to be the funkiest place to be in Morocco right now. Next week, having sampled all of the above this reporter will trek overland between Habitas Agafay, with its Morocco-Mexican themed cuisine, enjoyed under the stars, and its water front Dakhla lagoon resort where kitesurfing, water activities and enjoying nature are the only requirement.