Marrakech: An overview - Part 18

Ancient and Modern Architecture and styles – continued

Carved woodwork has long been a tradition in this part of the world. While some of the same designs are used to decorate both plaster and wood, often wood is installed as a frieze and carries inscriptions in Arabic, the language in which the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed and therefore of a sacred character. The inscriptions are generally of a religious nature and invariably praise the glory of Allah. They are used both to decorate and impart information. Moving on from this came Fretwork in which Moroccan craftsmen are adept at transforming ordinary sheets into geometric patterned screens and furniture panels. Some of which are often backlit to stunning effect. Although not indigenous to the country, they also assemble small, lathe-turned pieces of wood to form the screens known as mashrabiya.

Square minarets are not something you normally see as they are usually circular. The square design of Moroccan minarets can be traced back to the Umayyad rulers of Islamic Spain, who were of Syrian origin. The Syrians are almost unique in the Middle East for their square minarets which were probably influenced by the church towers built by Syrian Christians.

A distinctive feature of Islamic architecture is its focus on internal spaces. The exterior façades are very often ordinary window less walls. Courtyards serve as air-wells into which the cool night air sinks. They also allow women to venture outside while shielding them from the eyes of strange men. Fountains and basins are also found in many places. They are required for ritual washing before prayers but in an arid area the provision of drinking water is seen as a charitable act.

As the basic building material is pisé if it is not well made the structure can produce flaws in the rain. You will see numerous pigeonholes peppering walls in the city. However, this is a misnomer as they are really remnants of wooden scaffolding that was used to erect walls.

One of the essentials of any modern Moroccan Riad is an ostentatious lantern. Known in Arabic as famous, these large lanterns are fashioned from beaten metal laced with cut-out patterns, and they have historically been connected with the celebrations for Ramadan.

In past times wafer thin coverings of beaten metal were used to decorate grand wooden doors. Nowadays those same skills are used to fashion sheets of copper into hand basins.

Continued in part 19