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The majority of Morocco's population is Berber, and according to their calendar, it is currently the year 2969. Therefore, many cities in Morocco are referred to as "future cities."
Moroccan style is no stranger to modern architecture around the world, but all of that remains merely imitation and presentation. Because, to truly appreciate the unique character of a North African Muslim country bordering the Mediterranean Sea and the European giant, you can't find it anywhere else but in Moroccan architecture itself.
The dominant colors in Moroccan style are warm, earthy tones, and colors of the desert. However, due to its unique coastal location, tropical Mediterranean colors are also frequently used in its architecture.
Blue is also one of the most frequently used colors in Moroccan architecture. It represents the vast and majestic sea. The most famous blue city in Morocco is Chefchaouen, where the color blue covers every building, wall, sidewalk, fence, and bench. Previously, Chefchaouen was a refuge for the Jewish refugee community seeking to escape Nazi Germany, and they covered the city with the sacred color of their people.
Moroccan architecture is heavily influenced by the Moorish style (originating from the Ottomans, Arabs, and Mongolians). The Moorish style focuses on traditional materials and a nostalgia for the golden age of Islamic law.
Structure
Moorish architecture often divides spaces into distinct zones to maximize the use of light and shadow. Additionally, the extremely rustic, neutral-colored Moroccan walls are finished with a special paint that creates the effect of plaster. This simple exterior contrasts sharply with the elaborate interior details.
"Split spaces" to maximize the use of natural light.
Circles and arcs
Alongside the square and rectangular windows characteristic of traditional Islamic art, Moorish art tended to draw inspiration from circular and arched shapes. In particular, keyhole arches, horseshoe arches, and cusped arches were notable architectural achievements and were gradually regaining dominance in European and American architecture during the post-Moorish period.
The coexistence of traditional Islamic quadrilateral windows and Moorish-style windows.
Geometric patterns
The Moorish were skilled in mathematics. Therefore, Moorish artisans often used simple shapes like stars, multiplication signs, semicircles, hexagons, and octagons when decorating archways made of various materials from wood, plaster, tiles, to fabric. If they used images of nature in their designs, they would choose to stylize them as variations of arabesque curves.
In the 21st century, Moroccan architecture seems to be most frequently used for luxurious and opulent spaces.
