The Kasbah, the heritage of the Berber soul

Houcine, Ben Daoud, Sidi Houcine…. The father, my father-in-law… He is very comfortable with the administration and had the authority on the team to start the works. He was always optimistic and supported us throughout without ever doubting. It’s fair to say that it was not always easy to be with a woman who leads, but we made it work !

Saïd, the younger and hard-working borother, was always motivated and here all year long while we were in Switzerand. He monitored and lead during more than 6 years when we were not here. After the main building, plumbing and electric works that took more than 3 years came the time for the finishing works, decoration and Saïd perfectly executed our ideas in terms of finishing, harmony and details… We gave the main ideas and Saïd did the hardest job of being on all fronts, as the Kasbah is more than 400 sqm on the ground and has multiple floors with terraces… This project could have not been possible without Saïd.

The other brothers and the rest of the family also deserve a big thank you. This project is not only ours but also anchored in the Berber culture… We stay supportive no matter what happens ! Thank you yo Khalid who was a worker on the site during the first two years, Abderrahmane who made every effort to restore the old doors. He was delicate and perfectionist for all painting works and also an excellent cook. Merci à Younès, le plus jeune frère, fidèle à son « Baba Abdellah » (grand frère) depuis le début et toujours aussi présent aujourd’hui à la Kasbah, dans les excursions, en cuisine, pour l’entretien et le gardiennage. Faissal, qui a rejoint l’aventure après ses études et sait tout faire avec beaucoup d’énergie, de bonne humeur et d’engagement, un peu sur tous les fronts, un immense merci à lui aussi.

The mother Ma Zahra, Lallah Rkia, Fatima his sister, Ftoh out sister-in-law, Mahjouba and all the others who helped us from near or from far..

Hussein, known as “Biffaden,” joined the construction site as a young boy and has been on all fronts ever since — worker, handyman, painter, maintenance man, waiter, pastry chef, and even excursion guide. He’s still with us today and is truly part of the Kasbah family!

Thank you to all the maâlems (craftsmen), the workers, and everyone who contributed — from near or far — to this project. With whom we spent so much time, explaining how we wanted things to be — in a language I learned over time: Berber! I had very precise visions of everything we imagined, and this very notion of precision was quite at odds with Berber culture and temperament! So yes, we faced challenges, but we also laughed a lot and shared countless tagines and sardine salads on the worksite — for ten whole years! They say it’s the journey that matters more than the destination. I truly loved the journey we took.

Mohamed Ahansal, an official and renowned architect, was able to capture both the inspirations and my vision of authenticity. He supported me and gave me full freedom to design the Kasbah as it stands today. Above all, he ensured that we always complied with urban planning regulations, balancing requirements between the commune and the province. His help was truly invaluable throughout the entire project.

Houcine, El Ho, notre Mac Gyver berbère, un mahlem hors pair pour le travail du pisé (la terre), pour les plafonds en roseau, les enduits, les dessins, la peinture, la maçonnerie, il sait tout faire et continue à collaborer avec nous pour tous types d’activités. Il a une qualité précieuse en plus de tout le reste, la fiabilité.

Mohamed and Ahmed, two brothers and excellent masons, worked with us mainly on the lower courtyard, the kitchen, and the terraces. None of us will ever forget the plans sketched on loose sheets of paper, nailed to the walls, or my crash course in the Berber language — complete with all the technical terms specific to a renovation and construction site!

Ahmed and his maâlems specialized in tadelakt — those famous lime plasters mixed with pigments, requiring long and meticulous work to achieve a smooth, colorful, and elegant finish in the bathrooms and bedrooms. It’s an ancestral craft. With Ahmed, we collaborated closely on the choice of colors — a truly creative and inspiring process that lasted nearly two years. We used both local pigments and others brought from Carouge.

Abdelhatif and Abdelrahim, two maâlem brothers from Marrakech, masters of zellige — those tiny, colorful tiles, square or intricately shaped, assembled with harmony and delicacy in the bathrooms and our beautiful kitchen. They are true artist-mathematicians, their invisible calculations ensuring a flawless result. Hats off to them for their creativity and kindness. Working with them was a joy — simple, smooth, and marked by their perfectionism.

Mohamed “Anjar,” our carpenter, has been with us from the very beginning — and we’re still working together today. Despite our sometimes excessive demands, neither his smile nor his good humor ever faded. He crafted so much of this Kasbah — the doors, windows, tables, beds, shelves, and cupboards — often running his thoughtful hand over his smooth head with a mix of concern and patience. His kindness never failed, and in the end, we always made it through. We shared plenty of laughter and hard work together! And today, our collaboration continues with the woodwork for the stone house in the mountain oasis!

Mohamed “Tamaris,” a carpenter specialized in tamarisk wood, is one of the last artisans to truly master this hard, resilient, and demanding material. His work was entirely traditional — pegged, hand-assembled on site — crafting doors, furniture, and an incredible bed for the “Spirit of Africa” room. Our heartfelt thanks to him, and a happy retirement — his son has now taken over! I already miss his warm “Salam Tajdikte” whenever I passed by his home… Tajdikte is my Berber name.

Mohamed, our plumber — his smile, kindness, and calm even in the midst of chaos were truly unmatched. Ah, the plumbing… the walls were carved after construction — yes, you read that right — to run all the pipes through! The Kasbah suddenly looked like a block of Swiss cheese… Those were some very stressful moments for me, as I had never seen such a way of working! But in the end, Mohamed delivered a fantastic installation. Two full years of work in the Kasbah, hundreds of meters of “acadous” pipes, and so much dust we could hardly breathe! Thanks to him, we now have perfect sound insulation, solar panels for hot water, and finally a beautiful high-quality tap system — purchased in Marrakech, made in Germany and Italy. We truly cared about offering our guests durable, top-end comfort. And a warm thank you as well to Abdelalli, his partner — plumber by day, banjo player and singer by night — for his good humor, kindness, and constant helpfulness.

Hassan, our electrician — professional and energetic — left for Rabat after six months with us, leaving us a bit worried about finding someone to replace him. Then came Ahsou: skilled, dynamic, reliable, and ingenious. He took over brilliantly. He too carved into the walls to run the cables — more dust, more holes everywhere — but by then, we were used to it! Today, our electrical installation is safe, efficient, and whenever there’s an issue… he’s there in a flash. Truly precious and reassuring.

Taoufik, based in Marrakech, has been — and still is — the indispensable link that keeps this whole adventure running smoothly. Everything we needed for the construction site but couldn’t find in Agdz or Ouarzazate came from Marrakech — a five-hour drive away! Taoufik is our friend, our brother; we trust him completely, and his dedication is beyond compare. He’s there at the airport if needed, he guides you through the souks, helping you find your way while keeping you from being hassled. Taoufik is generosity personified.

Pierre-André, a carpenter and joiner from Valais, first came for a visit — and later returned to build the pergola that now stands proudly atop the breakfast terrace. It was a unique and unforgettable human and professional adventure. A heartfelt thank you to him as well.

So, as you’ve probably understood by now — the Kasbah is much more than just a guesthouse; it’s fifteen years of our lives.