The Royal Palace of Marrakesh, known as the Dar al-Makhzen ("House of the Government"), is still used as an official royal residence today and is off-limits to the public. While the palace complex historically encompassed most of the kasbah, it occupies a more limited space today.[1] The current structures and gardens of the palace date mainly from the Alaouite period, mostly from the time of Moulay Muhammad ibn Abdallah in the 18th century.[2] The original 18th-century palace was arranged in a regular and symmetrical fashion reflecting a riad-style layout, but subsequent constructions have added some asymmetrical elements.[1]:482–483