Yves Saint Laurent first visited Morocco in 1966 at the age of 33. He fell in love with this sun-drenched country, its vibrant colors, and way of life. Determined to create a creative oasis for himself where he could find inspiration, he decided to acquire a house—not just any villa, but a masterpiece created by the artist and collector of exotic plants, Jacques Majorelle. The building was neglected, even slated for demolition, but Yves Saint Laurent resolved to restore the former grandeur of the house.
Majorelle himself designed all the interior solutions and the appearance of the villa—a striking combination of yellow and ultramarine. The pinnacle of the design was the gardens where Majorelle assembled a collection of plants from around the world. It was in these gardens that Yves Saint Laurent later chose to have his ashes scattered.
“Upon my first visit to Morocco, I realized that my own color palette is similar to that used in the zellige, zouave, djellaba, and caftan. It is to this country that I owe the originality of my style—its explosion of colors, bold combinations, and the spirit of discoveries served as my boundless source of inspiration. This culture became mine, but I didn’t just transplant it; I enriched, transformed, and adapted it.”