Moroccan Craftsmanship

Tadelakt Marrakech
Immerged in the modernization of this century there re-arises an interest for natural and traditional ways of architecture and decoration.  The ancient architecture has often been beautiful, natural and in harmony with the earth, wind, sun and its surroundings. You could even say that this interest arises from a kind of need, a nostalgia and a trying to find harmonic ways to relate with ourselves and this planet.
Individuals as well as architects and craftsman can think and choose to create, live and build in ways that fit in best with nature. There is not a necessary need to rediscover the wheel, we can use the resources most near to us, study again the wind, sun, earth, and use intuition and human knowledge that is already for centuries available. And so it is that this movement of rediscovery is gently reappearing all over the world.
In morocco the craftsmanship has survived and evolved in many wonderful ways. The knowledge of adobe building and the use of (tadelakt) lime are just a few examples. The Moroccan craftsman has many times showed us works of art and beauty that do respect traditional techniques, human intuitive knowledge and create a harmony within there surroundings.



History
A traditional house in Southern Morocco or a Riad in Marrakech, are great examples to see art and craftsmanship combined. The beauty, richness, history and culture are all visible in the different facets of the techniques, and the ways these houses are build.
Each Riad for example has an inside garden, to rest, live, socialise and have the meals. It remains fresh in summer, and warm in winter. Build around it are layers of rooms, including a rooftop terrace where in the summer afternoon and evening life happens.
In winter the lower rooms stay warm and protected. Decoration is usually made with tadelakt, zellige, wood and gypsum carvings, earth-plasters and more.
Its nature it self that has been generous in supplying earth, lime, gypsum, wood, sand and stones. And then showed us how to manage these materials! How to use and play with them.



Realisation:
In construction, TADELAKT is used today easily. It brings a pleasant feeling of heat in winter and freshness in summer for an optimal comfort of life in the dwellings.
Mâlem Layachi Kanssour is one of the living examples of artists that has carried out amazing works of tadelakt in both traditional as well as modern ways. He has worked in many riads and land houses in and outside of Marrakech and elsewhere in and outside of morocco. With many years of teaching experience he is very happy to present a 5-day intensive tadelakt course.