Koutoubia mosque. No building may rise above this one.
Wherever you look in Marrakesh, there are usually a hundred thousand different things to see. Like this image above, your view is almost always cluttered with patterns, colours, fabrics, tiles, mosaics, buildings, and of course, people. There is so much happening. Like I said about the Djemaa el Fna square - this place sharpens all your senses.
So at first glance, maybe Marrakesh isn't particularly pretty to see. But when you look closely though, you notice the odd door, beautifully decorated with intricate wooden carvings. Or an entrance to a mosque, hidden away in a souq, with sunbeams shining on it as it were an entrance to heaven. Or the façade of a shop, richly decorated with blue and yellowgolden tiles and mosaics. Also, the buildings in Marrakesh are so much prettier on the inside than on the outside. I fell in love with the amazing tilework and patterns and carvings and other decorations on buildings. I like the complexity and often geometric aspect of Islamic design. It's so pleasing to the eye.
So at first glance, maybe Marrakesh isn't particularly pretty to see. But when you look closely though, you notice the odd door, beautifully decorated with intricate wooden carvings. Or an entrance to a mosque, hidden away in a souq, with sunbeams shining on it as it were an entrance to heaven. Or the façade of a shop, richly decorated with blue and yellowgolden tiles and mosaics. Also, the buildings in Marrakesh are so much prettier on the inside than on the outside. I fell in love with the amazing tilework and patterns and carvings and other decorations on buildings. I like the complexity and often geometric aspect of Islamic design. It's so pleasing to the eye.
This was the first thing we saw in Marrakesh: Menara airport. Beautiful design by E2A Architecture, AGA and CR Architecture. I always love it when modern architecture incorporates traditional elements, like the Moroccan arabesques in the windows here. This is also one of the few examples of modern (iconic) architecture in Marrakesh.
I just love this peaceful courtyard (riad) here in the Ben Youssef Madrasa (a former Islamic school, now a museum). Riads are very common in Islamic architecture, and they often have pools like they have here. These pools are used as a kind of natural airconditioning.
Ah, I just love the tile work and Berber/Moorish influences. I also like how all the different materials combine so well without being too flashy. I mean, there's marble, tilework, stucco... Also, those wooden carvings! And in the hall they have a picture of King WA and Queen Máxima visiting the Madrasa, haha, always a plus.
Ah, I just love the tile work and Berber/Moorish influences. I also like how all the different materials combine so well without being too flashy. I mean, there's marble, tilework, stucco... Also, those wooden carvings! And in the hall they have a picture of King WA and Queen Máxima visiting the Madrasa, haha, always a plus.
Patterns and a lovely shade of blue at the tombeaux Saadiens. Hues of yellow (gold) and blue are common in Marrakesh.
Loved these patterns in the Museum of Marrakech. Not too overwhelming and very detailed.
Jardin Majorelle by YSL, with of course, lots of vivid yellows and blues. Might I add that although the jardin is reasonably crowded, it's still a very nice escape from the Marrakesh heat and bustle.
Anyway... We felt totally inspired after our trip, so we promptly painted our bookcases YSL yellow. Now I'd like to find a way to incorporate those patterns somehow, without making my home tacky ;)