Scape Design reveals landscaping for Fairmont Taghazout Bay
Fairmont Taghazout Bay, located on the Atlantic coast of Morocco near Agadir, has revealed the inspiration behind its naturalistic and biodiversity rich landscaping by London-based practice Scape Design. Ten years in the making, with significant master planning needed for the bay itself, the property takes cues from its locale as well as the indigenous Imazighen Berbers – who once inhabited the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.
The layout of the resort is inspired by the journeys of the semi-nomadic Berbers as they travelled along ancient routes between mountains and sea, following wadis and riverbeds. Often dried-up in the arid region, the wadis are interspersed with oases where tumbled river pebbles meet wildflowers and palm trees.
“We worked hard to give the resort’s masterplan the spirit of these places with wadis snaking through the site from the entrance down to the beachfront creating circulation routes, numerous vantage points and areas of green planting and shade,” says Philip Jaffa, founder of Scape Design. “We’re always mindful of the effects of climate change on our work, so the guest experience is intrinsically, yet subtly, linked to the cultural history and changing geography of the area. This is different from the typical hotel or resort plan in Morocco, which gravitates around courtyards. The client and the project team wanted to create something authentic.”
Working with HKS Architects, Asamad Achari and Wimberly Interiors London, Scape Design minimised the visual impact of the buildings and the structural fill, while at the same time ensuring that its 146 guestrooms, suites and villas, as well as the restaurants, all had views of the Atlantic Ocean and the sunset to the west.
Reinforcing the geographical vision, dry channels framed with verdant grasses and succulents wind their way from the resort entrance through terraced resort hillside and soften as the topography eases to meet the beach front. They articulate spaces, drawing guests to vantage points and opening onto plateaus where swimming pools, restaurants and bars are revealed. Water is used sparingly to add drama to key locations and create surprise moments too. Where there are water pools, Scape drew from desert blooms in the mountains using fragrant native and long-flowering species. As the ocean breeze comes in, the grasses and flowers sway in the wind in contrast to the motionless succulents, echoing the fundamentals of the concept.
A walled arrival court shaded with date palms and olive trees heralds “you are here”, where the sound of splashing water gently cools the space. As guests walk into the lobby, they are immediately greeted with 6m-high floor-to-ceiling glass panels, revealing the panoramic view over the resort to the ocean beyond.
Walls and enclosures are used to screen and guide guests through the informal landscapes and build anticipation until a sliver of light allows a glimpsed view through into another space or breaks open into a new landscape framing views beyond. Concealment and subsequent reveal of views are seen in nature and used in the most ancient of Morocco’s landscapes. Although Fairmont Taghazout Bay is a thoroughly modern destination, age-old design principles and delicate touches of Berber culture are woven throughout, crafted to provide areas of tranquillity nestled amongst olive and almond groves that immerse guests in nature.
Each of Fairmont Taghazout Bay’s restaurants offer a distinctive experience, whether relaxing on the arrival terraces taking tea, poolside dining, the floating pavilions of the main restaurant overlooking the grounds, or panoramic views from the speciality restaurant positioned atop a landscaped promontory at the heart of the resort. The property also features a well-equipped conference centre and ballroom, with arrival through a series of walled, arid garden rooms that frame glimpsed views and create shaded break-out seating.
The sunken oasis of the spa garden meanwhile is a secluded destination, nestled into a quiet corner and informed by the rustic charm of the quaint Berber villages, which are set within hillsides and scattered throughout the eastern Atlas Mountains. Each treatment building is accessed through its own private garden with lush bougainvillea and aromatic rosemary trailing over the earthen-clad walls that surround it.
“The architecture and landscaping influence the site equally, creating a natural rhythm with opportunities for discovery,” adds Jaffa. “The result is a romantic feel, one that is contemporary and luxurious but, at the same time, uniquely anchored in sense of place connected to nature and the surrounding natural environment.”
