Islamic Architecture

Decorative surfaces are essential to the Moroccan house. In the homes of the rich, every inner wall, floor and ceiling is sheathed in color and ornaments.

The walls and ceilings are covered with mosaics, sculpted plaster and painted wood. The courtyard is paved with white or grey flagstones or terracotta whose joints are embellished with bands of polychrome mosaic tiles.

Floors are covered with mosaic tiles. Sculpted plaster is very often used around doors and windows, on the inside edges of arches and for the capitals. Wrought ironwork is used to protect the courtyard windows.

Finally, no Moroccan house is complete without mentioning the importance of fountains. In the grand houses, there is either a fountain built against one of the courtyard walls, richly decorated with mosaic or a garden fountain in the center of the courtyard of which the tiled bottom in polychrome geometrical motifs creates a jewelled effect.