Morocco: and now getting to the house design

Okay, we needed to submit for the Marrakech building permits.  But to do so, we needed to have a design, we needed to have a plan, we needed to have our dream house and dream guest house down on paper.  Ahem, it looked like we had our work cut out for us.

*

We had walked the land and walked it again.  The question was how could we maximize these 8.5 acres of land and olive grove to get what we wanted?  We started out with some concepts:  indoor/outdoor living, privacy, light, eco-friendliness.  We wanted something that was Moroccan in style but Western in its safety codes, its bathrooms and its kitchens.  We wanted a place where children could bike and play, people could swim and take runs, and adults could recuperate from the stresses of work and the nightly television news.  We wanted a place that would inspire you to take strolls in the mornings through the olive trees, with benches so you could stop and admire the mountains in Winter.  We wanted a place that made you want to gaze at your husband or wife in that special way, even after all these years. We wanted something up market, something stylish, and something exclusive.  We wanted spacious rooms, private terraces, and multiple living experiences.  You see, we wanted it all.  And we also wanted not to go broke in the process.  We had a mortgage, we had our savings, and we had my parents’ contributions.  But we didn’t have more than that.  We would have to find a way.

*

We rolled up our sleeves and got to work. Or really, my trusty architect husband, Chris, got to work. After spending 20 years designing other people’s homes, it was finally time for him to design his own.  Sketches on paper on every surface in the house, trash cans filled with crumpled vellum overlays, AutoCad computer manipulation until the wee hours of the morning.  It was exhausting, it was exciting, it was nerve-racking, it was ours.  Finally, finally, it seemed we had our design.  So what was the design you ask?  I was just getting to that part…….

Comments

[Anna]

Is it not everyone's dream to design and build their own dream house? Now you are living your dream. If I didn't know that I would be spending significant part of my life in that house of your's, I would be really jealous. Now I'm just holding my breath...

[An Indian in America]

"The ALL" that you wanted is so much of anybody's dream in a beautiful land that you now own. That reminds of Laurie Baker, a British architect who made Kerala ( known as God's own country ) made many homes. Considering the beautiful terrain of kerala he made many houses an oasis in itself.

[An Indian in America]

Correction:
2nd line : a British Architect who made kerala (known as God's own county) his adopted country made many houses.

****A house is built by hands and homes are made by hearts

[Maryam In Marrakesh]

Anna, I am still awaiting the day when you and your family decide to move in with us permanently. Please just let me know, so I can pen it into the calendar:-)

Dear Indian (please do give me your name). I am absolutely enchanted and inspired by India (and so is Anna above, BTW) and your post made me so happy. My enchantment with India began when I was a little girl when I declared that I wouldn't go to India until I could honeymoon there, as in my mind, it was the most romantic place in the world and I wanted to "save it" just like the way you save desert for last because it is so delicious. Since then I have traveled to India on a number of occasions and each time have found it more fascinating. Thank you so much for visiting my blog.

[ZenKimchi]

I wanna see! I wanna see! I wanna see!

[Cat]

Wow! I am so living vicariously through you. Can't wait to see the plans.

"We wanted a place that would inspire you to take strolls in the mornings through the olive trees, with benches so you could stop and admire the mountains in Winter. We wanted a place that made you want to gaze at your husband or wife in that special way, even after all these years"

Now, that's a tall order..

[diane in gibraltar]

wow ! can we have a pick, please please please.......

[Maryam In Marrakesh]

Zenkimchi and Diane, it's coming up, I promise. (And Zenkimchi, I loved the fried chicken salad on your blog.)

Cat, nothing like getting away for sparking a little romance...

[An Indian in America]

my name is extremely unusual and so with my name out there i would not feel very comfortable. But I would be glad to send you my name if i can send you on your email address.

[Maryam In Marrakesh]

Dear Indian, of course - please do send me an email. You can click in the upper right of my blog under the picture where it says email me. I do love getting emails. But perhaps you would feel more comfortable giving me a nice nickname, so I don't continue saying "Dear Indian."

[Anna]

Maryam, if spending our honeymoons together is any indication of future living arrangements...

I'm picturing us sitting together one day with the scrabble board in front of us, gazing out into the olive grove with the sun setting in the distance, and us looking around for our husbands...where are our gin and tonics?

[Home Remodeling Ideas]

so i can sent my design on your site....i will send my design soon..