I had a lot of fun traveling last week for Thanksgiving, and outside of the cooking and spending time with family I had the opportunity to daydream and read about the Gardens of Morocco, specifically Marrakech. I’ve always been a big fan of bright colors; it’s just a part of my personality from the clothes I wear to the patterns I pick out for pillows and sheets for my couches and the bedrooms.
After reading these books I thought about how different these gardens are to the western garden concepts that I have, mainly centered around
growing vegetables
growing flowers
a grassy center with shrubs, trees and other vegetation surrounding the center.
My favorite garden and courtyard design elements
Wooden doors:
In Morocco, wooden doors are often intricately carved and adorned with vibrant colors. They are an artistic feature of Moroccan riads (a riad is a home centered around a courtyard). The choice of wood, usually cedar or oak, provides durability and offers natural insulation from the scorching desert heat and the chilly winters of the Atlas Mountains.
Colorful cut-tile mosaic (zillij):
Zillij is mosaic tilework that holds a prominent place in Moroccan art and architecture, and can be found adorning the walls, floors, and ceilings of Moroccan palaces, mosques, and riads. The painstaking process of creating zillij involves hand-cutting each tile into precise shapes and then arranging them into geometric patterns, often featuring stars, rosettes, and arabesque designs. Beyond its aesthetic beauty, zillij also serves a functional purpose, providing natural temperature control in the country's diverse climates.
Horseshoe Arch
The horseshoe arch is a distinctive element in Moroccan architecture. It’s swoopy, grand, and unique. I like it a lot!
Water features
Islamic gardens often incorporate water features, reflecting the importance of water in Islamic culture and religion. Water symbolizes purity and is often associated with spiritual cleansing and renewal in Islamic culture. It is seen as a blessing from God and a source of life. The sound and movement of flowing water in a garden can create a serene and meditative atmosphere. Water elements serve practical purposes as well: microclimates for plant life to flourish and cooling effects for when it’s hot outside.
The Quadrant
Quadrants in Islamic gardens play a significant role in the design and symbolism of these meticulously planned and cultivated spaces. They are often arranged in a four-part layout, divided by pathways or water channels and often represent the fourfold paradise mentioned in Islamic tradition, known as "Charbagh.” This concept draws inspiration from the Quranic description of paradise as a lush and abundant garden with flowing rivers, divided into four parts. The quadrants in Islamic gardens symbolize this heavenly paradise and serve as a reminder of the idealized natural beauty described in Islamic scriptures.
Videos for a cozy November evening
Here are a number of videos I watched to really absorb the craftsmanship and inspiration for Islamic Gardens. Grab a cup of tea and watch a few, you may feel inspired to create something colorful and handmade!