Architecture in Morocco is a mixture of black African and Islamic design styles, with Islamic styles predominating in this combination. This is evident not only in the building itself but also in the lush gardens, extravagant décor, and clever use of deep, contrasting colors.
Morocco’s tumultuous history is evident in its mighty desert forts and heavily guarded palace walls. It is also the style in which Moroccans decorate the interiors of their buildings, giving these architectural wonders a unique and solemn atmosphere. Most of the buildings have large, intimidating arches and beautiful domes to complete them. The use of ornaments to decorate the exterior of attractive courtyards, extensive gardens, and buildings is also common. Moroccan architecture also uses Islamic calligraphy for decoration rather than imagery
Berber influence
The Berbers are an ethnic group native to Morocco who developed the region’s first major architectural tradition. Few of these traditions have survived as well as the aesthetics created by the Berbers who used adobe as their dominant building material. Called pisé in French, the solid and striking look of this material can be found throughout Morocco, although its actual use by Adobe is much less common.
Islamic influence
Islamic architecture arrived in Morocco in the 7th century and remains today the most visible element of Moroccan architecture: decorative calligraphy. Courtyard layouts are common in both ancient palaces and everyday houses called riads or dars, reflecting a clear division between places of public and private interaction. Islamic horseshoe shape The entrance of the arch welcomes you.
Palace of Bahia, Mellah, Marrakech | Architecture In Morocco
A stunning tranquil garden setting surrounded by beautifully decorated walled pavilions. It was built by Bou Ahmed, a former slave who came to power under Sultans Moulay Hassan and Abd Aziz. Bahia Palace, which means ‘shining’, lives up to its name, with wrought-iron windows casting beautiful shadows on traditional jelly tiles. In the courtyard, lush orange trees and shady gardens surround a dripping fountain.
Hassan II mosque, Casablanca
French architect Michel Panceau lived in Morocco. He sawed his 53,000 m2 of timber for the church, and it took him seven years to construct over 10,000 m2 of zellige with his 10,000 craftsmen employed in all the cities of the kingdom. The result is a stunning blend of traditional Moorish architecture and his 20th-century innovations and furnishings, creating a modern, large-scale tribute to the former King of Morocco. The roof is adorned with a series of his 14 domes and his 50 Murano glass chandeliers. For the roof, he had to install his 300,000 roof tiles. It is made mostly of cast aluminum and mimics Fez’s traditional glazed terracotta tiles, but is a quarter lighter.
Hassan Tower, Rabat | Architecture in Morocco
Hassan Tower is an unfinished mosque minaret in Rabat. The red sandstone towers, together with the remains of a mosque and the modern mausoleum of Mohammed V, form an important historical and tourist complex in Rabat.
The tower is climbed by ramps instead of stairs. The tower is said to have been designed by an architect named Jabil, who used a similar design scheme to Hassan’s sister tower, now the Giralda Tower in Seville, Spain. Both towers are modeled after Jabiru’s minarets of different designs.
Ben Youssef Madrasa
The Ben Youssef Madrasa was built in 1964 and is the most prominent architectural example of an Arab school in southern Morocco. The Madrasa has a nearly square floor plan with a side length of 42 meters. It features a constantly expanding and contracting space that is accentuated by the influx of natural light.
Kasbah Taourirt
Kasbah Taourirt is a historic fortified housing complex in Ouarzazate, Morocco. The Kasbah was first built in the 17th century by the Imzuwaan, a powerful local family. The Kasbah has appeared in movies such as Gladiator and Prince of Persia.
The building is mainly composed of rammed earth and mud bricks. The main part of the building is its three stories, characterized by large square or rectangular towers at the corners. Its exterior is decorated with geometric motifs and niches typical of architectural styles found in southern oasis regions traditionally dominated by Berbers.
Gare De Marrakech
As you walk towards the train station through a large and beautifully tiled square, you are greeted by a large glass arch that forms the main entrance. I will hand over the building. The building is decorated with many Islamic geometric designs. Around the arch is a large rectangular building in ancient Egyptian style. The coloring of entire building is divided into three colors: red brick, ocher, and glass. The building is unlike many other railway stations in the world, but it is a fine example of classical North African and Islamic architectural styles used in contemporary settings.
Bou Inania Madrasa
Madrasa Bou Inania is a preserved historic monument, an example of Islamic architecture, and a popular tourist attraction in Morocco. place. The intricate work that went into the completion of this magnificent building has earned him his reputation as one of Morocco’s most impressive madrasas. It’s not easy to decide which part of Bou Inania Madrasa is the most spectacular. Because it looks like every part of the building is decorated with details. The most striking feature of the Fez Madrasa is its green brick tower.
Bab bou jeloud | Architecture In Morocco
Considered the ‘gateway’ to the Medina, its history dates back to 1913. The French did this by cutting holes in the ramparts. The three arched gates are magnificent, decorated with blue tiles on the outside and green tiles on the inside. It is a modern building with direct access from the street, without the defensive curved entrance of medieval gates. Outside the city walls, you can see a very modest old gate on the left. The name BouJeloud originated before the current gate existed.
Al-Attarine Madrasa Fez, Morocco
The highlight of this small madrasah is the courtyard, which is artistically decorated in a traditional style. , floor and wall. Malindo craftsmanship. The Marinid Sultans who ruled Morocco were known to be ardent patrons of seminaries. Al-Attarin His Madrasa, which means “Perfumer’s Madrasa”,
Walls are carved stucco ornaments, sections of Arabic calligraphy, and intricate zelliges forming colorful geometric patterns His mosaics His tiles decorated with Marble columns rise from the floor to support intricately carved wooden arches and cornices
Royal palace of Rabat, Dar El-Makhzen | Architecture In Morocco
Rabat’s first royal palace was built in the 18th century and designed by Louis Paul Pertusio and Felix Joseph Pertusio. The garden was designed by Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier. The palace consists of a large walled complex that includes the Mechouar, the Palace, the Guard’s quarters, a school for members of the royal family, the library, the Al-Fas Mosque, the Prime Minister’s residence, and the Habou Ministry. The grand entrance gate is an ornately decorated brass door framed by carved wood decorated with jelly and geometric motifs.
Saadian tombs
This is an architectural masterpiece. A mix of Moroccan and Andalusian motifs. The Sardian Tomb is a walled courtyard supported by towers and has two sides. These burial mounds have a long history. They are from the Saadian dynasty. During this dynasty, Marrakech experienced a height of culture, sophistication, and power.
Tinmal mosque
The building has a fortress-like appearance with the thick plain walls that characterize other Almohad mosques and buildings. Another special feature was the position and shape of the minaret located in the middle of the south wall above the mihrab. A design feature not found in other historic mosques. The mihrab (a niche that symbolizes the Qibla), located in the center of the south wall, is an octagonal niche surrounded by a small muqarnas dome, very similar in shape and decoration to the Koutoubia Mosque and other Almohad Mosques.
Al-Qarawiyyin mosque
Along with associated madrasas, it eventually became one of the most important spiritual and educational centers. It was incorporated into Morocco’s modern state university system in 1963. According to UNESCO and Guinness World Records, it is the oldest continuously operating academic institution in the world and is sometimes called the oldest surviving university.
Telouet Kasbah
Telouet Kasbah is located between Ait Benhaddou and Marrakech, on the old caravan route towards the Sahara Desert. It is an often overlooked historical site that visitors often pass by unsuspectingly when leaving Morocco’s world-famous, UNESCO-listed imperial city of Marrakech. teeth. However, the Kasbah undoubtedly has some of the best Islamic architecture in Morocco and should not be missed when driving through the High Atlas Mountains. With such intricately designed interiors and compelling stories, many visitors are amazed at the rewards they get when they decide to leave the narrow, dusty road leading to the building and keep walking.
Archaeological Site of Volubilis | Architecture In Morocco
3rd century BC. Founded around 1000 BC, the capital of Mauritania became an important outpost of the Roman Empire and was adorned with many beautiful buildings. An archaeological site in a fertile agricultural area preserves its extensive remains. Volubilis later became the capital of Idriss I, the founder of the Idriss dynasty, and was buried in nearby Moulay his Idriss.
References
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Hassan Tower, Rabat (no date) Memphis Tours. Available at: https://www.memphistours.com/Morocco/Morocco-Travel-Guide/Rabat-Travel-Guide/wiki/Hassan-Tower-Rabat (Accessed: December 23, 2022).
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