The Palace was designed by Olivier-Clément Cacoub and inaugurated in 1962 and, until 1987, it served as the summer residence of the first president, Habib Bourguiba. It retains its modern character with a harmony between plans, elevations and volume, summed up in two simple interlocking geometric shapes (a cube and a cuboid). The restoration involved three elements: the conversion of the residential part of the Palace into a museum in honour of Bourguiba; the creation of a centre of international documentation; and, a focus on landscaping, in particular the musical fountains, the first in North Africa. The restoration has made an economic contribution to sustainable development in the tourist area of the city of Monastir.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture