Swedish Globetrotting Couple And Their Home In An Oasis Near Guelmim

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I’ve e-met Anette on Facebook, such a common way to meet people in 21st century. Finally, after around a year we met in real, I got to know Anette and her husband, Peter. Both Swedish, she’s in her late fifties, he’s in his early sixties. I can’t believe there is over a generation of difference between us – spiritually they could be my siblings! They’ve built several houses from the scratch, renovated some ruins and decorated hundreds of interiors.

I think there’s no country that they have not been to, eventually they chose Morocco to settle down for good. When they first came here they bought an abandoned ruin in Tanger with a mission: breathe life into it. They renovated it, added their touch and sold it. Then was the south of Morocco, a calm oasis somewhere in Sahara. They bought some land and started drawing their house… Step by step, without a sharp plan they started building. Peter is the building master, Anette takes care of the final touch and stylish decorations.

They found oasis of Tighmert by accident. The best things in life happen unexectedly. They were wandering in the souk of Guelmim when someone aksed them “are you from the oasis?”. The guy grasped their attention and they decided to check the place out. Having sold the house in Tanger, they had no place to live. They had their tent.

Few days later they bought a piece of land with some palms and since then the tent was their home. They started building six years ago and they are still polishing the details of the beautiful house in the oasis.

The law in Sahara is quite hmmm… unique… and they were not allowed to use concrete. All the houses in the region have to remain traditional. That’s good, one may say, but if you think of the consequences of the climate change (that nobody ever expected) then an amendment of the law is needed. The floods in 2014 destroyed everything, many houses were ruined. Following these unfortunate events, since 2015 people are allowed to make concrete constructions.

The house of Anette and Peter is a place with a soul. When you go there you feel creativity and passion floating in the air. Every single things in the house is unique, many of them come from artists and many others have been made by Anette. It’s a place where you can relax and find an endless inspiration.

As Anette works in Spain and Tanger, it’s quite a challenge for her to spend 18 hours on a bus twice a month… Having put so much love, heart and passion in the house, they want to sell it now… I feel so sad inside that this lively place may change its owners soon. One thing is for sure: whoever is going to own it, will live in a beautiful, peaceful place.

PS. There’s no tax in Sahara. Once you possess a house, it’s yours and nothing goes to the government. Only Lydec (electricity and water). Ummm… heaven!

Their little guest house in the garden is for rent.

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