Moroccan architecture is considered one of the most prominent and most famous of the ancient Islamic architecture. From hundreds of years to the present era, the landmarks of Moroccan architecture are still immortal through many historical buildings and landmarks that tell the strength of history and civilization and monitor the glory of color and the abundance of creativity.
This renaissance included various types of Islamic architecture, such as building walls, forts, towers, castles, mosques, corners, shrines, domes, palaces, dwellings, factories, planting orchards, designing roofs and carving on their edges.
Moroccan craftsmen and traditional craftsmen had a great role in preserving this rich cultural and human heritage that provided the world with an atmosphere of expertise and taste that made this architecture exceptional.
The beauty of Moroccan architecture
The steadfastness and beauty of Moroccan architecture is due to the diversity and overlapping of civilizations in Morocco between Berber, Roman, Andalusian and Islamic, passing through colonial countries (Portugal, Spain and France), in addition to the geographical location of Morocco, which had a role in the passage of civilizations from Africa or Europe or the civilizations of the Mediterranean countries, without That this affected his young personality, but that was a factor in his opening to draw from most civilizations and form a strong architectural character, which had a role in this important urban momentum that we notice in most ancient cities and touch it more clearly in the Moroccan decor of various colors derived from the Moroccan environment.
Dr. Othman Othman considered in the introduction to his book "Islamic Architecture and Applied Arts" in its fifth part that Morocco found in its culture and inherited capabilities the best support for the Moroccan personality amidst the horrors of successive ambitions, so some of the highlights of its authentic traditions of culture, construction and industry with the development that keep pace with the times, until it escaped That heritage from the hand of the greedy to remain a testament to the greatness of Islam and the glorious role of Arabism in the Far Maghreb.
Othman considered that if the flame of Arab civilization has departed from Andalusia, it has settled with what it borrows from the arts, sciences and culture of the Moroccan-Andalusian style in the great civilization of the land of Morocco.
In the same context, researcher Mohamed Amzil considered to Al-Jazeera Net that Morocco is full of urban monuments and historical monuments, and is rich in rare archaeological artifacts that demonstrate the nobility and originality of Morocco, and its relentless pursuit of the preservation of collective memory and ensuring its civilizational and cultural radiance at the global level.
Amzil adds that "earthy architecture in Morocco has several peculiarities, considering the earthen architecture or the architectural heritage in its comprehensiveness is the heritage built with soil, it is the pulse of the past, the spirit of the present that acquires in its comprehensiveness a beautiful and attractive cultural value, artistic, creative, beautiful and attractive, reflecting creativity and human knowledge on which it is based Ancient civilizations. "
This earthy architecture forms harmonious plastic panels that embody a distinct architectural style and features of historical, cultural, heritage and folkloric stages rooted in antiquity, as Amzil said.
In Ouarzazate (the southeast of the Kingdom of Morocco) the city is rich in an architectural heritage distinguished by its own style of construction, especially at the level of palaces, kasbahs or collective stores that were built centuries ago and still bear witness to important historical events in that period of time, and a cultural, historical and cultural heritage that tells about On the ancient history of the region, and the palm oases scattered in the regions of the region also give it an aesthetic and color that reflects the continuity of life and its attractiveness, and is distinguished in its forms and designs by a group of decorations, inscriptions, symbols, drawings and figures of different and varied shape and depth, and with natural colors that combined the magic of nature and human innovation.
The heritage palace is a dirt building and a population gathering mostly surrounded by a thick wall, and it includes a number of facilities, including kasbahs, houses, a mosque, a square and stores of grain, and is characterized by being wider than the kasbah, and among the most famous of which is the palace of Ait Ben Haddou, which is known internationally and classified as a human heritage by UNESCO In 1987, it is located approximately 30 kilometers north of the city of Ouarzazate, and is considered one of the most important historical palaces in Morocco, and cinematic activities have contributed to the definition of the palace on the global level.
As for the kasbah, it is a huge earthen building distinguished by its height, and it often takes a shape of several floors, which may reach 4 or more, and the ground floor is often reserved for animals and the rest of the floors for housing and residence, and the kasbah is distinguished by the height of its four corners (the constellations), including, for example, the Kasbah. Taourirt, the city of Ouarzazate, has been known internationally for centuries, and its current function is cultural tourism in particular, according to Amzil.
Features of Moroccan creativity
One of the features of creativity in Moroccan architecture in its civil part is the use of geometric shapes, and there is also decoration of plants, trees and calligraphy, such as writing in Kufic script in the form of a ribbon surrounding the architecture, and because decoration is a beautiful form of architecture, Moroccan architecture is dominated by luxury and extravagance in placing decorations.
Arches, for example, are widespread in ancient Moroccan architecture, as there are arches that resemble the circular horseshoe and pointed and ornate arches, as well as the lobed arches for which Andalusia and Morocco were famous. It bears the roof in some buildings and mosques, such as the Great Mosque of Cordoba, the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque in Fez, and the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech.
As for what distinguishes Moroccan ceilings, it is engraving on wood, as this style is considered one of the features of Moroccan architecture, and this is evident in the doors, ceilings and furniture. Moroccan homes still retain their distinct character through the total or partial inscriptions in the so-called "zouq", in addition to engraving on gypsum The domes and mosaics, which are mosaic pieces, are varied and have many colors, through which various shapes are formed after being combined with each other to decorate the walls of mosques, palaces, columns, basins and fountains.
Regarding these methods, Dr. Othman Othman said in the fifth part of his book that “the local styles - which started from the era of the Almoravids and the Almohads, until they were settled in the era of the Marinids - represent the summit of development in the Moroccan-Andalusian art style, in addition to the openness to some new styles and influences that The western dome refers to it as the courtyard of the Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque.
Industrialists and craftsmen
The ancient or modern Moroccan architectural artifacts are the product of skilled Moroccan craftsmen who played a major role in the secret of their beauty and eternity to keep the genius of these craftsmen keeping up with every newcomer and preserving their identity and architectural and creative privacy, highlighting the high taste and competence of Moroccan craftsmen.
What we see today of creative, urban production, going back in time, shows the accuracy of artistic masterpieces, the primitive character of materials, craftsmanship and familiarity with the rules of workmanship, this skill inherited from generation to generation is the product of stages of learning and apprenticeship, so traditionally this craft is transmitted from father to son as learning starts from Filigree.
In the book "Islamic Architecture and Applied Arts" in its fifth part, the author of the book considered that Morocco did not import craftsmen and artists to achieve masterpieces of architecture and art in the tomb of Muhammad V, but rather it was accomplished by teachers I got to know and listened to, and I myself stood by them about the secret of state sponsorship and preservation of the growth and development of styles Artistic in its historical line.
He added that Morocco is still exporting to many countries in Africa, Asia and Europe, senior builders and famous teachers of artists in the industries of stone, plaster, marble, wood, and zellige, and decorated and decorated, to implement major works of art in the traditional Moroccan style that still amazes others as a representative of the splendor of Islamic arts in its historical image. .
Ahmed Al-Bahja - one of the craftsmen of engraving on gypsum - considered to Al-Jazeera Net that Morocco abounds with many Moroccan craftsmen skilled in this craft, and that many buildings inside and outside Morocco have benefited from the skill and ingenuity of the Moroccan craftsman, whether in gypsum or other urban crafts.
He added that this craft was inherited by Moroccan craftsmen from their ancestors, as he considered it one of the tributaries that enrich the authentic Moroccan urban heritage, stressing that this urban creativity with its rich arts and types is a long-standing and authentic reference that is deeply related to Islamic arts and the high-end Moroccan Andalusian creations.