Moroccan architecture reflects the country’s identity: plural and mixed! The evidence is present in several architectural styles visible in the land of beautiful Morocco and many testimonies about the civilizations and peoples who wrote the history of Morocco.
Moroccan architecture
Moroccan architecture is the architectural style utilized in Morocco throughout its history and into the present day. The country’s architecture reflects its varied geography and long history, shaped by waves of immigrants and military conquest. This architectural history includes sites from the Roman and Amazigh eras and colonial and modern buildings from the 20th century…
ancient architecture
Ancient buildings, or what’s left of them, can be seen in northern Morocco. Volubilis and its Roman city have been on the list of UNESCO heritage sites since 1997. Tingitane was once the capital of Mauritania. It was built on the AmazighWali on a beautiful site with olive trees and swimming places. In the sun. In the shadow of the village of Moulay Idriss and the first hills of the Zerhoun Mountains, the Romans left behind the capital, thermal baths, forum, Arc de Triomphe, basilica, and homes with mosaics. The size of this site should make it bigger than other ancient sites in Morocco, like Lixus and Banassa, and the archaeological site of Chellah in Rabat.
Amazigh style: Moroccan architecture
The origins of Amazigh architecture lie in the past. Still, it has left its stamp on the regions of southern Morocco, where it is regarded as a symbol. Ksour, kasbah, and Agadir are all examples of fortified villages. They are all decorated with traditional geometric patterns that show off the beauty of the Amazigh style.
Amazigh buildings are made from bare soil and other materials that are easy to find in the area. The strength and beauty of Amazigh architecture come from this organic material called stony earth. The raw-earth architecture is simple, natural, and ideal with the South’s landscapes.
Portuguese influence
El Jadida, Essaouira, Asilah, Azemmour or Safi… These cities have buildings that look like they were built when the Portuguese were in Morocco. The Atlantic fortifications remind us of when Mazagan (now known as El Jadida) and Mogador (now known as Essaouira) were formidable military strongholds. Even though “Algarve beyond” is no longer a thing, these Moroccan cities still have great examples of Portuguese architecture, like long sandy beaches that let in a lot of light.
The Arab-Andalusian style
Even though the Arab-Andalusian style doesn’t show the wide range of architecture in Morocco, it’s the one that comes to mind when we think of the Cherifian Kingdom. The mosque and other buildings with Arabic calligraphy and arabesques demonstrate Andalusia’s cultural evolution.
The Almoravids brought the Arab-Andalusian style from Cordoba. It peaked during the Almohad dynasty when giant minarets like the Koutoubia (Marrakech) and the Hassan Tower were built (Rabat). Purity and grandeur are two words that describe the work of Almohad architects and craftspeople. Under the Merinids, the decorations were inspired by the fine art of the Nasrids of Granada, so they were no longer plain. The Al Attarine medersa in Fez, the Bou Inania medersa in Fez, and the Abu Al Hassan medersa in Salé are great examples of the Merinids’ bias. The most significant builders of Morocco, like the Saadian sultan Ahmed El Mansour and the Alaouite sovereign Moulay Ismail, were born during the following dynasties… Even if the style inspires architects and artisans today, it can’t be as creative as it was in the past.
Colonial architecture
The colonial architecture of Morocco propels the traveler into the first half of the 20th century. Casablanca and Rabat, living in the French protectorate era, saw a new urban space flourish under the impetus of Marshal Lyautey, Resident General at the time. New European districts, rising alongside the historic medinas, feature colonial houses, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and neo-Moorish or Bauhaus-style architecture.
Home of the craziest urban and architectural experiments of the time, Casablanca, “Deir Beida,” the white city, is then able to compete with the Haussmannian ensembles of Paris. The same architectural topo in northern Morocco’s cities, marked by Spanish colonial architecture.
Contemporary style
When you think of Morocco, this style is not the first thing that comes to mind. But modern architecture could change what the Kingdom looks like in the years to come. We’ve already talked about the Morocco Mall in Casablanca, the National Library in Rabat, and the head office of Maroc Telecom in Rabat. Most recent projects? The Christian de Portzamparc and Rachid Andaloussi-designed CasArts Grand Theater in Casablanca, the Zaha Hadid-designed Grand Theater in Rabat, and the continent’s highest tower, to be completed in Rabat’s Bou Regreg Valley in a few years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Moroccan architecture called?
The culture of Morocco can be seen in many aspects of the country’s buildings.
Here’s how it works: Islamic art’s intricate mosaics, wood carvings, and stucco use symbolic mathematics.
Moroccan homes often have large grounds with plants, fountains, and other features that make people feel more at ease.
An interior garden, tiles, plaster decorations, and fountains make a riad a classic Moroccan home.
One beautiful example of Islamic architecture is the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. Bugs often have mosaics and paintings on them. In Morocco, kasbahs, traditional homes with tile roofs and interesting architecture, are used for safety.
There are many complicated patterns and decorations in Marrakech’s buildings, which can make places feel warm and inviting.
How would you describe Moroccan architecture?
Symbols and the history of Moroccan society shape the country’s architecture.
To begin with, the buildings, furniture, and tiles in Morocco all have complex geometric designs based on Islamic art.
Many homes and public buildings use this style, and you can find inner gardens with fountains and plants.
Colors that stand out, like blue, green, and yellow, are often used in tiles and clay.
Architectural gems like churches, homes, and public buildings look very interesting and different thanks to the sculptures, mosaics, and plasterwork that cover them.
Moroccan architecture successfully combines Amazigh, Islamic, and European styles.
Mosques in Morocco have a warm and real feel because of their complex patterns, bright colors, and expensive details.
What is the most famous architecture in Morocco?
In Morocco, you can find a lot of important Islamic or traditional Moroccan buildings.
Built in 1993, the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca is unique because of its huge size and careful attention to detail, especially its 210-meter tower.
In Marrakech, the Koutoubia Mosque, built in the 12th century and featuring a tall tower and beautiful tiles, stands for the whole city.
Built in the late 1800s, the Bahia Palace in Marrakech is beautiful with its fancy decorations, lush grounds, and fine artistic details.
Building began on the Kasbah of the Udayas in Rabat in the 1100s. It has lovely gardens, detailed tilework, and bridges with designs that run along the Bou Regreg River.
Ultimately, the Ben Youssef Madrasa in Marrakech is an Islamic school from the 1400s. It has a lovely courtyard, floors covered in intricate tiles, and very nice plasterwork.
These buildings show Morocco’s rich Islamic and traditional architecture and cultural history.
What design style is Moroccan?
Morocco’s design, a unique mix of Islamic, Arab, and Amazigh styles, shows how different the society is.
The bright colors, complicated patterns, and pretty details stand out.
In Moroccan style, natural browns and yellow are used frequently, as are orange, green, and blue.
Tiles, fabrics, and other home decor items in the Moroccan style have complicated geometric designs. The ideas behind these designs come from Islamic art and building.
Doors and furniture that are decorated in the Moroccan style usually have a lot of tiles, plasterwork, and carvings that are very detailed.
Adding different textures, like handmade rugs and embroidered fabrics, makes the Moroccan style look more real.
Moroccan architecture and interior design have a unique and modern look, thanks to the way Islamic, Amazigh, and European styles have combined over time.
Bright colors, complex patterns, and other works of art make Moroccan rooms feel warm and welcoming.
