Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech

YSL. Three letters that stand for the fascinating life and work of one of the greatest fashion designers. Yves Saint Laurent revolutionised fashion and dressed the most beautiful women. One of his credos for the catwalk was to combine colours, shapes and patterns from all over the world to create unique haute couture collections. This is perhaps why the world-famous Jardin Majorelle in Morocco was so close to his heart. Here, in front of the gates of the old city of Marrakech, he fell in love with the richly coloured work of art featuring cacti, palms and water lilies from all continents.

The ideal place to showcase some of Saint Laurent's work, which is managed by the Fondation Pierre Bergé. This had commissioned the construction of the new Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech (mYSLm) in the Rue Yves Saint Laurent, right next to the Jardin Majorelle. At the same time, a new YSL museum was also built in his home city of Paris.

The French Studio KO, founded by Karl Fournier and Olivier Marty, is responsible for the design and conception of the building in Marrakech. The aim of the two architects is for the architecture of the building to echo the fashion exhibited inside. It is inspired by one of Saint Laurent's most famous designs – the tuxedo collection for women. Velvety-smooth terracotta bricks produced in the region around Marrakech cover the façade. Arranged in a tight lattice pattern, they create an almost fabric-like pattern. Elegant, calm and timeless. Just like a tuxedo that often surprises with an individual lining, inside, Studio KO created an exciting contrast to the discreet exterior. Colourful ornaments and fragments of stone are to adorn walls and floors.

The building has a large terrace, restaurant and its own library containing some 5,000 books on fashion and design. The sanitary facilities have toilets by designer-bathroom manufacturer Duravit: the wall-mounted toilets from the Darling New series by sieger design. A harmonious circular form and delicate edges are the hallmark of this design classic within the Duravit programme. Thanks to their closed sides, the models are particularly elegant and have no visible fastenings to interrupt the harmonious look.