The Architectural Brilliance of Musée Yves Saint Laurent

The Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech (mYSLm) opened its doors in the autumn of 2017, offering a unique tribute to the legendary fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. Located on Rue Yves Saint Laurent, adjacent to the famous Jardin Majorelle in Marrakesh, Morocco, this museum celebrates Saint Laurent's enduring legacy and the rich cultural image of Morocco.

The museum houses an extensive selection from the Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent’s impressive collection. This includes 5,000 items of clothing, 15,000 haute couture accessories, and tens of thousands of sketches and assorted objects, providing a comprehensive insight into the designer’s creative genius. The French architecture firm Studio KO designed the building, which spans over 4,000 m2 and seamlessly integrates with its surroundings, showcasing terracotta, concrete, and earthen-coloured terrazzo with Moroccan stone fragments.

A local supplier crafts terracotta bricks from Moroccan earth for the façade, and a blend of local stone and marble composes the terrazzo floors and facades. The museum includes a 400 m2 permanent exhibition space with scenography by Christophe Martin, a 150 m2 temporary exhibition space, a 130-seat auditorium, a bookshop, a café-restaurant with a terrace, and a research library housing 5,000 books.

The Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent, in collaboration with X-Art, has implemented exceptional conservation methods to ensure the preservation of each item in perfect archival condition. The museum features an advanced air conditioning system with temperature and moisture control, crucial for maintaining the integrity of textiles and rare books.

The auditorium, with state-of-the-art acoustics designed in collaboration with Theatre Projects Consultant, offers a venue for concerts, film screenings, and conferences. The lighting, installed by I.C.O.N., enhances both the interior and exterior spaces, providing atmospheric illumination that complements the exhibits. Musée Yves Saint-Laurent Marrakech is more than a museum; it is a cultural landmark that celebrates the intersection of fashion, architecture, and Moroccan heritage, inviting visitors to explore the enduring impact of Yves Saint Laurent’s work in an inspiring setting.