A young Moroccan architect has won a major design prize in Marrakech, with a project that will soon become part of one of the city’s most visited gardens.
Salsabil El Ouazzani has been named winner of the 2026 Fondation Jardin Majorelle Prize for her project Nouala, the Moving Shelter. Her design will be turned into the next temporary pavilion at the famous Jardin Majorelle.
The announcement was made on 15 May by the Fondation Jardin Majorelle. Judges said her work stood out for its choice of materials and the way it fits into the historic garden without overwhelming it.
A special mention went to El Mehdi Belyassmine for his project Phyllocode, with organisers saying the overall standard this year was very high.
More than 34 entries were submitted by architecture students from across Morocco, including Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Fez and Ben Guerir. The jury said many projects managed to balance modern ideas with respect for the site’s history.
The panel was chaired by Madison Cox, president of the Fondation Jardin Majorelle. It also included architects Hiba Ben Salek, Karl Fournier from Studio KO, Salima Naji, and Alexis Sornin from the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech.
The pavilion is located inside the Jardin Majorelle and is redesigned every two years by young architects. It is used for exhibitions and cultural shows.
The garden itself is one of Marrakech’s best-known landmarks, originally created in 1924 by French painter Jacques Majorelle and later restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé. Today it attracts over a million visitors a year.
The garden is known for its bright blue buildings and calm water features. It blends Moroccan and Art Deco design and remains one of the city’s most recognisable cultural spaces.
