Musée Yves Saint Laurent

The Musée Yves Saint Laurent by Studio KO embodies an architecture of quiet strength and subtle beauty, a source of inspiration in its clarity and presence. Essential in its character yet monumental in its impact, it uplifts and grounds us, showing how architecture can speak across time. The rhythmic red brick façades transform light and shadow into a gentle play of depth and nuance - a material expression that resonates with the spirit of the site and with our own tradition of brickwork, reminding us of the shared global heritage of earth, honesty, and craft. The building draws from its surroundings while transcending them, inspiring a dialogue between tradition and modernity. Simplicity here is never empty, but layered with emotion, memory, and presence, revealing how minimal gestures and sensitive materiality can carry profound resonance and stand as a timeless tribute.

When Yves Saint Laurent first arrived in Marrakech in 1966, he was struck by the city’s dazzling light, deep colors, and intricate textures. The discovery was more than a passing fascination - it transformed his vision. Morocco’s vibrancy found its way into his couture, from rich desert tones to bold geometric shapes. “Marrakech taught me color,” he once said, and that lesson lingered in his work for decades.

Five decades later, this profound bond between a couturier and a city is embodied in the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech (mYSLm). Opened in 2017, just steps from the famed Jardin Majorelle - another landmark lovingly restored by Saint Laurent and his lifelong partner Pierre Bergé - the museum is both a cultural shrine and an architectural statement.

Designed by Studio KO, the 4,000-square-meter building seems stitched into the earth itself. Its terracotta brick façade resembles woven fabric, a nod to Saint Laurent’s métier, while the interior feels like the luxurious lining of a couture jacket - intimate, soft, and meticulously crafted.

Inside, the museum houses a permanent exhibition of Saint Laurent’s most iconic creations, carefully curated from thousands of prototypes archived since 1964. Around 50 pieces at a time are displayed, organized by themes close to his heart: Masculine–Feminine, Africa and Morocco, Imaginary Voyages, Gardens, Black, and Art. Each garment is more than fashion; it is a story of influences, travel, and artistry.

Beyond couture, the museum embraces scholarship and culture. It offers a research library of over 5,000 volumes, an auditorium for screenings and lectures, and a gallery for contemporary exhibitions. The effect is not just retrospective but forward-looking - a dialogue between Saint Laurent’s legacy and today’s creative voices.

For Bergé, who envisioned the museum before his death in 2017, building it in Morocco was essential. “It feels perfectly natural,” he said, “to build a museum dedicated to Yves Saint Laurent’s work in a country that inspired him so deeply.”

The Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech is therefore not just a fashion museum. It is a love letter - between a designer and a city, between memory and modernity, between fabric and stone.