Page 73 - Mokazine 4 Eng

Neoclassical inspiration
X The typical neoclassical architecture of colonial plantations marks the edge of former sugar estates in Moka. Drawing extensively upon the Palladian style that was largely influential in Europe, this style can be found in the region, especially in Reunion Island.
These large houses, set in French gardens, are built with a clever mix of native woods, stone and teak wood shingles. Wide, well-lit verandas are also a hallmark. P
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Credit: @extinctmauritius
La Malmaison, the exiled one
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X La Malmaison was initially built in Moka, before being moved to Curepipe in 1902 to become its town hall. “Moved”, you read that right. This was quite common practice in the past. Like puzzles that are broken up into pieces and then reassembled, houses were often moved to a new town due to a difficult climate, a health crisis or just for a change of scenery.
Just imagine the scene, in front of the statue of Paul and Virginie made by Prosper d’Epinay, in the French garden of the house. P
Val Ory, the mysterious one
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X Built in 1913 in reinforced concrete – an architectural innovation at the time – Val Ory was for some time in the 1940s the residence of Reza Shah Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran in exile in Mauritius. Still owned by Iran, the building is surrounded by four acres of lush greenery. It has been unoccupied for more than 80 years and there are rumours about its sale. The mummified remains of the Shah were allegedly found in 2018 in the ruins of a vault in Tehran.
This anecdote should catch the attention of a few people at your next dinner party – in Moka or elsewhere. P
2022/ NO 4 /MOKAZINE 71