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Fobe House by Guilhem Eustache

A Belgian film director resides in one of the four white boxy structures of this residence near Marrakech by Guilhem Eustache.

Fobe House

Alongside the main home, the Fobe House also comprises a pool house, a caretaker’s residence and a garage, which are dotted around the two-hectare site.

Fobe House

Two overlapping concrete walls screen the front of the house itself, while a concealed staircase between leads up to a terrace on the roof.

Fobe House

Patterned openings pierce these walls, as well as others around the house to create lattice-like shadows on the interior walls and floors.

Fobe House

The opposite side of the house opens out to the swimming pool and faces across to a stepped diving board and the pool house behind.

Fobe House

The project was completed in 2007.

Fobe House

We've only published a couple of projects from Morocco before - see projects there by Zaha Hadid and Foster + Partners by clicking here.\

Fobe House

Photography is by Jean-Marie Monthiers.

Fobe House

The text below is from Guilhem Eustache:


The land is located about ten kilometers south of Marrakech.

Fobe House

Flat, mostly drowned under a heat veil that hides horizon.

Fobe House

It is only from December to March that the snowy atlas appears.

Fobe House

In this 2.5 hectares area the buildings occupy only 240 sqm.

Fobe House

The volumes and their arrangements permit to avoid a floating effect in this empty space.

Fobe House

Before discovering the layout we first need to go along the clay walls, which remote the neighbours away while allowing the sight of whites geometries.

Fobe House

Once we cross through the metal gate, earth tinted, we are suddenly plunged into a strange world.

Fobe House

Three white steles frame and seek the longitudinal axis of the house in the center of the field.

Fobe House

On the right side, the Guard house, two mixed cubes, is close to a totem fireplace and faces the double garage all in length studded with small openings.

Fobe House

These simple elements articulate the vacuum around and focus the eye towards the house itself.

Fobe House

Paradoxically simple and complex: a foliation of longitudinals sails between which stages the project program; tall windows; sets of geometric cutouts; framing, especially from the living room across the pool and its bleachers toward the atlas.

Fobe House

Program: House
Location: Tassoultante, Marrakech / Morocco.
Address: village of Tassoultante / Amizmiz road - 9.2 km from Marrakech
Completion: 2007

Fobe House

Project area:
Private residence: 171,96 sqm
Guard house: 20,20 sqm

Fobe House

Garage: 35,08 sqm
Pool house: 13,12 sqm
Total: 240,36m² on 2,5 ha
Plantations: 23 olive tree, 10 palm, 450 eucalyptus, 200 mimosa, 20 fruit trees

Fobe House

Commisioner: private, Belgian film producer
Architect: Guilhem Eustache (Born in Nîmes / south of France)
Moroccan correspondent: Hicham Belhouari, architect / Marrakech / Morocco