Marrakech - known as the "Ochre City" is the oldest imperial city in Morocco. It comprises both an old fortified city (the medina) and modern neighborhoods. It was founded around 1060 - which makes it over 950 years old. It boasts the largest traditional Berber market (souk) in Morocco and one of the busiest squares - the Djemaa el Fna - in Africa.
The architecture is like nothing in the contemporary world - but once you understand it, it makes all the sense in the world. Homes (Riads) are turned inside-out. From the street, there are no windows, and all you get is this huge, thick wall (sometimes over 1m thick). There is no set-off or green zone and houses are built right up to the street. The courtyard/garden is inside the home, and windows open up to the courtyard. Privacy is complete - and you do not hear or see your neighbors unless you exit your home portal.
In the desert heat, it makes a lot of sense. Since warm air rises, the central courtyard where there is frequently a pond or fountain maintains a pool of cool air creating an "air well". Even with it is 47 deg C (117 F) outside, the inside can be a cool 35 deg. Since the walls are so thick, no matter how noisy your neighbor is, you do not hear it. Nor street noise. Inside your home, you have complete privacy from prying eyes and ears. This was where one of the latest Genesis 2 Junior speakers went into.
It was almost a 15min walk from the nearest motorable street, down winding streets well worn by hundreds of years of passing feet. The entrance was completely incognito - looking like the doorway to any other Riad in the medina (well, may be the plaster and paint on the walls looked a little newer).The owner bought three Riads and combined them to build his home away from home. They were originally built by one of the six original founding families of Marrakech - and hence, the Riad was over 900 years old. The families of the founders of Marrakech still lived in the surrounding Riads, but we never saw them.
The architecture is like nothing in the contemporary world - but once you understand it, it makes all the sense in the world. Homes (Riads) are turned inside-out. From the street, there are no windows, and all you get is this huge, thick wall (sometimes over 1m thick). There is no set-off or green zone and houses are built right up to the street. The courtyard/garden is inside the home, and windows open up to the courtyard. Privacy is complete - and you do not hear or see your neighbors unless you exit your home portal.
In the desert heat, it makes a lot of sense. Since warm air rises, the central courtyard where there is frequently a pond or fountain maintains a pool of cool air creating an "air well". Even with it is 47 deg C (117 F) outside, the inside can be a cool 35 deg. Since the walls are so thick, no matter how noisy your neighbor is, you do not hear it. Nor street noise. Inside your home, you have complete privacy from prying eyes and ears. This was where one of the latest Genesis 2 Junior speakers went into.
It was almost a 15min walk from the nearest motorable street, down winding streets well worn by hundreds of years of passing feet. The entrance was completely incognito - looking like the doorway to any other Riad in the medina (well, may be the plaster and paint on the walls looked a little newer).The owner bought three Riads and combined them to build his home away from home. They were originally built by one of the six original founding families of Marrakech - and hence, the Riad was over 900 years old. The families of the founders of Marrakech still lived in the surrounding Riads, but we never saw them.