The formation of Gazebo - Part 1

The Formation of Gazebo - Part 1

I finally realised my lifelong dream in 2011 when I purchased my own property in Morocco. It was a big undertaking, but with the perfect location and breathtaking views, I knew it was going to be spectacular.

Initial Observations

There was a small cottage existing on the land, but it was in very poor condition and needed to be mostly demolished.

However, there were redeeming qualities that I loved and were complete heaven to me; the stucco vernacular, the shutters, art deco detailing and the French windows.

The land sloped down along the cliff edge, so I knew it would require terracing to make it a usable garden.

I worked closely with a colleague, Bob Walker, who had an incredible knowledge of historical architecture and building techniques, who was able to suggest solutions for some of the more practical and structural problems.

What I Wanted to Achieve

There are key features that are part of my design DNA and were essential to include.

• Stucco plasterwork
• Shutters
• French windows
• Pantile roof tiles

I also had more unusual features on my list of desires for the house, and as work began, this list got more extensive as I began to see the potential of the space.

• Soane-inspired vaulted ceiling
• Chintz fabric wallcovering
• Treillage lining the walls
• Internal courtyard
• A colonnade
• Guest house

Designing On-Plan for a House in the Sun

As the old cottage was rotten, we had to demolish it and start again. This meant we were essentially designing a house from scratch, or 'on-plan'. Designing on-plan means creating the floor plan and layout, which I could do to my exact requirements.

I wanted my front door to be a pair of French windows off the internal courtyard, in the style of a Regency villa. I then decided the front door would open into a sun room, which would lead you into the living room and then into the rest of the house beyond.

This layout is slightly unconventional, but it suited the way I wanted to live here in a hot climate.

With encouragement from my colleague, I then opted to line the sun room in trellis to create a treillage room inspired by the great interior decorator Elsie de Wolfe. There's something magical about a house in the sun with a treillage room.

With the layout of the main house relatively set, I realised the need for a connecting space that would take you to the guest house. This is where the idea for the colonnade came to be.

The guest house then expanded to include 4 bedrooms, a flower room, laundry rooms and staff quarters, and I have ended up with around 8000 sq ft - not something I intended when I first began the project!

Further Reading

• Christopher Gibbs' Tangier home
• Villa Léon L'African, previously the home of Richard Timewelle
• Elsie de Wolfe
• Alberto Pinto