GM Architects led by Galal Mahmoud Reinterpret Moroccan Architecture

The Sofitel Tamuda Bay by GM Architects offers a genuine experience in French art de vivre combined with the refinement of an authentic Moroccan style


The Sofitel Tamuda Bay is a luxury five star hotel that opened in June 2016 in M'diq, a town located on the northern coast of Morocco. It offers104 bedrooms and suites, eight bungalows and five villas spanning a total floor surface area of 38,128 sqm. Located on one of the most beautiful Moroccan beaches of the Mediterranean, it is set against the stunning backdrop of the Rif Mountains.



Galal Mahmoud took the cultural references of northern Morocco and reinterpreted them in a contemporary language, and then integrated them into the final design. The very essence of the project is the fusion of the opposing shores of the Mediterranean: on one side, the French Riviera's world of contemporary art and glamour and on the other, Morocco's charming traditional crafts and authentic lifestyle.




GM Architects designed the architecture and interiors in such a way as to blur the boundaries of indoors and outdoors, so that guests enjoy the sky and sea as a beautiful palette of blues. Resolutely contemporary in his approach, Galal Mahmoud drew inspiration from 20th century artists whose paintings were highly influenced by their stays in Morocco. The hotel's internal spaces pay tribute to the influence of these artists in the choice of pigments, the rounded shapes reminiscent of Moroccan crafted objects, and even the blue birds of the Mediterranean Sea. Vivid colours contrast sharply with the bright white used in the marble. The subtle mix of modern French art de vivre and traditional Moroccan culture was the overriding principle that guided Gael Mahmoud in the design of Sofitel Tamuda Bay's internal spaces.

The project won Best New Hotel at the 2011 International Hotel Awards and Best Luxury Beach Resort in Northern Morocco, and the World Luxury Hotel Awards 2016 went to GM Architects for their work on this project.

Photo courtesy: Christophe Gay & Luc Boegly