Jnane Rumi has all the hallmarks of the best hotels in Marrakech – Moorish archways, tadelakt-plastered suites, a swimming pool lined with artisanal tiles laid chevron style – but its revolving collection of outstanding North African art, featuring local stalwarts such as Samy Snoussi, Amina Rezki and Margaux Derhy, is what makes it so memorable.
When Dutch lawyer Gert-Jan van den Bergh and his wife Corinne first saw Jnane Rumi, it was not the building, but the century-old palm, olive and pistachio trees that they fell in love with. The house is indeed named after its idyllic garden (Jnane in Arabic) and ‘Rumi’, the Arabic for Roman, a nod to its European ownership. The couple, initially looking for a second home, had viewed more than twenty properties before they finally found something they connected with emotionally: One of the five oldest houses in the whole of Palmeraie, Morocco's legendary palm oasis, it was designed by Charles Boccara, a famous Tunisian architect who was also responsible for Marrakech’s Theatre Royal as well as several of the city's most distinctive hotels. Over the years, many artists and intellectuals would call it home, including the Moroccan sociologist Paul Pascon, and the building would welcome them all with open arms.
Originally a four-bedroom property from the mid-20th century, its new owners' vision for Jnane Rumi evolved a seven-year renovation project; a collaboration between Boccarra’s disciple Nicolas Bode, Belgian creative Jacques van Nieuwerburgh and Gert-Jan. Their mission was to create a ‘cultural residence’, a place for curated, intellectually stimulating retreats and gatherings, ranging from yoga, holistic retreats and culinary weeks, to book launches and art-related events. Corrine's desire to position Jnane Rumi somewhere between a private luxury villa and a boutique hotel – something that didn’t yet exist in quite the same way in Marrakech – stemmed from the couple's deep appreciation for Marrakech as a hub for contemporary art, music and literature.
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Listed among the best hotels in Marrakech, this Moroccan getaway has eleven bedrooms in total, split between the main house, three garden pavilions and a private annexe with its own pool. The Dutch-Moroccan designer Mina Abouzahra has overseen the interiors, bridging the old and the new with decor sourced from the private warehouses of tastemaker Mustapha Blaoui, the ebullient owner of Tresors des Nomades, a legendary interiors store in Marrakech’s buzzing medina. There is in every room a sense of excitement, the placement of textiles, tapestries, furniture and art curated but not contrived. For example, in the loggia a traditional Moroccan lamp hangs above graceful woven rattan armchairs by Rotin Ameublement and in the dining room, a bold red-painted display case frames ceramics crafted by regional names.
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In one of the bedroom suites, a pair of mid-century style chairs upholstered in a kuba cloth sit alongside mint coloured chevron patterned tiles on the floor and modern ceiling lamps by Kada Oudainia. Central to the house is a nine-metre domed ceiling, a sculptural focal point that, in addition to Arabic archways and a fluid indoor-outdoor design, balances architectural drama with an easy charm.
Jnane Rumi has all the hallmarks of a glorious Marrakech getaway – Moorish archways, tadelakt-plastered suites, a swimming pool lined with artisanal tiles – but its revolving collection of outstanding North African art curated by the Marrakech-based painter and sculptor Samy Snoussi that sets it apart. In one of the smaller sitting areas an artwork by Samir Toumi, who grew up in Casablanca, is sculpted from soap; elsewhere, a striking map of Africa is decorated with elaborate script and set into a circular panel. In yet another room are two tapestries hanging on either side of a large fireplace, one by the Moroccan and Paris-based designer Louis Barthelemy, which was commissioned for Jnane Rumi. The other piece by the Margaux Derhy, a French artist now based in southern Morocco, is an embroidery that took her and five embroiderers over six months to complete. Other works by emerging and established artists include pieces by Mous Lamrabat, M’Barek Bouhchichi, Mo Baala and Amina Rezki. Well-known European names such as Roberto Ruspoli, who has created three frescoes in the dining room, will join a roster of artists whose work will be on rotation at Jnane Rumi.
The evolution from a private home to a place for connection and creativity happened naturally with the lives of previous occupants magically weaving their stories into the fabric of the house. It is a house where, at every turn, there is a book to pick up, a cup of mint tea appears, and the afternoon can pass by the pool at one of the tables under the trees. In the kitchen, Karin Gaasterland, who formerly consulted for Vanessa Branson at the iconic El Fenn resturant, is the creative chef and advisor to the in-house kitchen team. The menu focuses on seasonal produce with a Moroccan influence, and the food is as creative and original as the interiors.
Marrakesh has many beautiful hotels, but Jnane Rumi has carved a space that is very much its own. Here is a community that links both guests and locals, creatives and artists in a space that is also rooted in the lush gardens that surround it. It has all the trappings of a hotel, a bespoke concierge service and tailored experiences that include artist studio visits and private architectural tours, but it also has the quiet, relaxing charm of a private home where you might just want to find a quiet, shaded corner and curl up with a book. A stay here is much more than just checking into the best hotels in Marrakech. Find out more.
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