Pre-purchase survey
A technical visit of the riad you are considering: structure, damp, roofs and terraces, real floor areas, layout potential and a first budget envelope. You negotiate and sign with the facts in hand.
Riad renovation
Riad renovation in Marrakech — restore, transform and live in the medina.
I+G Partners renovates riads in the Marrakech medina: pre-purchase survey, design, permits, traditional craftsmanship and site supervision. One firm carries your riad from the first visit to handover — even if you live abroad.
THE STUDIO
I+G Partners, riad architects in Marrakech
Based in Guéliz, minutes from the medina, I+G Partners restores and transforms riads into private homes, guesthouses and rental properties. Every project balances two readings: heritage — old structures, the patio, traditional materials — and contemporary comfort — new services, bathrooms, discreet air conditioning, light. The result must still be a riad, not a modern house in disguise.
WHAT WE DO
Riad renovation, from purchase to handover
A complete mission that ideally starts before you even sign: each step secures the next one.
Design & drawings
Survey of the existing building, then plans, sections and 3D views. The patio, galleries, bhou and roof terrace are reorganised for light, circulation and the use you have in mind — home, rental or guesthouse.
Medina permits
Works authorisation or building permit depending on scope, reviewed by the heritage authorities — the medina is a UNESCO World Heritage site. As Order-registered architects, we prepare, sign and carry the whole file.
Services & comfort
Plumbing, electricity, air conditioning integrated without disfiguring the volumes, terrace waterproofing and treatment of rising damp — the classic pathologies of old medina houses.
Materials & craftsmanship
Beldi zellige, tadelakt, bejmat, carved plaster, cedar wood and ironwork: we draw each element and entrust it to craftsmen the studio works with project after project.
Building in the medina
Contractor coordination plus the medina’s own logistics: lanes no machine can enter, materials in and rubble out by hand or by mule, neighbourly relations. Regular site visits and reports.
Marrakech medina districts
- Mouassine
- Dar el Bacha
- Bab Doukkala
- Riad Laarous
- Riad Zitoun
- Kasbah
- Sidi Mimoun
- Kennaria
HOW A PROJECT UNFOLDS
How a riad renovation unfolds
Five legible stages with precise deliverables at every milestone. You always know where your riad stands — even from abroad.
- 01
Visit & survey
Ideally before you buy: structural condition, damp, floor areas, regulatory constraints and a first budget envelope. An architect’s opinion before money changes hands.
- 02
Sketch & brief
Drawings of the existing building, then of the project: bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, patio and terrace. Decisions on use and budget are made on clear documents.
- 03
Permits
We assemble and file the application with the commune and the heritage authorities, follow the review and handle any revisions. Nothing starts without a clean regulatory footing.
- 04
Works
Selective demolition, structural repairs, services, renders and artisanal finishes. Contractor tendering, coordination and quality control at every phase.
- 05
Handover
Final inspection, snagging and key handover. The riad you receive matches the riad that was drawn — on budget and on schedule.
BUDGET
What does renovating a riad in Marrakech cost?
Indicative ranges observed in Marrakech, excluding the purchase price and furniture. Every riad is different: the real budget is built after a survey.
Light renovation — ≈ €170 to €450 per m²
The riad is sound: refreshed renders and tadelakt, bathrooms, partial electrical work, joinery and paint. The spirit of the house is kept, the comfort brought up to date.
Full renovation — ≈ €370 to €560 per m²
All services redone (plumbing, electricity, air conditioning), bathrooms and kitchen rebuilt, new joinery, terrace waterproofing and complete artisanal finishes.
Heavy restructuring — ≈ €560 to €750 per m²
Structural repairs, a redesigned patio, extension or an added floor, noble materials and deep heritage restoration. The riad is rethought in depth, within the medina’s rules.
These ranges reflect Marrakech market prices in 2026 (converted from dirhams); they frame a project, they don’t price it. An on-site survey leads to a trade-by-trade budget that is committed and tracked throughout the works.
PROJECTS — RIADS
Riads delivered in the medina
Two recent renovations by I+G Partners: patios, pools, zellige and contemporary craftsmanship in the Marrakech medina.
OUR APPROACH
Why entrust your riad to us
Renovating a riad is as much a heritage project as a construction project. Our role: secure the purchase, the budget and the permits, then deliver a riad true to the drawings.
Delivered riads, not promises
Riad Céleste, Riad Safran d'Or: the studio knows the medina's craftsmen, its permit circuits and the reality of building between the lanes. That experience shows in our delivered work.
One point of contact — even remotely
Many of our clients live abroad. Weekly photo and video reports, WhatsApp or video calls, documented decisions and spending: you follow everything without being on site.
Permits & budget under control
The regulatory file is carried by an Order-registered architect; costs are priced trade by trade and tracked with the schedule. Surprises are dealt with upstream, not mid-works.
Founding architect
Ilyess Ghdou
Architect D.E.N.A. — Diploma of the École Nationale d'Architecture
FREQUENT QUESTIONS
Riad renovation in Marrakech — frequent questions
How much does it cost to renovate a riad in Marrakech?
Roughly €170–450 per m² for a light renovation, €370–560 per m² for a full renovation and €560–750 per m² for heavy restructuring, excluding purchase and furniture. Structural condition, damp, finish level and how accessible the lane is all move the budget — which is why a survey before committing is worth so much.
Read our full riad renovation cost guideDo I need a permit to renovate a riad in the medina?
Yes. Depending on the scope, a works authorisation or a building permit is required, and because the Marrakech medina is a UNESCO World Heritage site the file is also reviewed by the heritage authorities: street façades, heights and traditional elements must be respected. The application must be signed by an Order-registered architect — which is exactly our role, including for foreign owners.
How long does a riad renovation take?
In practice: 4 to 8 months for a full renovation, 12 to 18 months for heavy restructuring. Medina logistics — materials carried in by hand or by mule, rubble carried out through the lanes — weigh on the schedule; we plan for them from day one rather than discovering them mid-works.
Can you inspect a riad before I buy it?
Yes — and it is the best moment to bring us in. The pre-purchase survey covers structure, damp, roofs and terraces, real floor areas and layout potential, with a first budget envelope. You negotiate the price with facts, and you walk away from riads whose pathologies outweigh their value.
I live abroad — how do I follow the works?
Most of our riad clients live outside Morocco. You receive weekly reports with photos and videos, regular WhatsApp or video calls, and every decision and expense is documented. You only travel for the milestones that matter: design sign-off, material choices, final inspection.
Can a riad become a guesthouse (maison d’hôtes)?
Yes — it is one of the most common conversions. It calls for a layout designed for guests (bedrooms and bathrooms, circulation, service areas) and compliance with operating and classification standards. We design for that use from the first sketch, and interior architecture can be part of the same mission.
Explore our interior architectureCONTACT
Let’s talk about your riad
Send photos, a listing or your plans — even before you buy. We come back to you within 48 hours with a first reading and the next steps.