BAHIA PALACE
Riad style
Not just another term for trendy guesthouse, riads
are, in fact, sophisticated urban gardens, found at
the heart of wealthier homes. To have one of these
private havens is the ultimate luxury, a sanctuary
from the madding crowd.
Their design goes back at least to Roman
times, but was developed here to give protection
from the sun and provide women with privacy.
Rectangular in shape, they are fully enclosed,
with pavilions at the ends, and bisected by four
tiled paths that represent the rivers of paradise:
wine, water, milk and honey. Central fountains
symbolise the heavens, while trees and shrubs
may not be trimmed as, in Islamic belief, they are
thought to be “honoured guests”.
Lines from the Koran are often carved into the
gebs
(
plasterwork), while the intricate
zellij
(
mosaics) express God’s infinite variety and
complexity. Above all, these are spaces for the
senses, with running water, cool tiles to walk on,
fragrant plants and delicious fruit to relish.
Part of the Bahia Palace, the Petit Riad (
above
)
is an exquisitely crafted example of this style:
everything is loaded with meaning, from the
colours of the
zellij
to the carved
gebs
and the
perfumed presence of cedar wood.
Central fountains symbolise the heavens,
while trees and shrubs may not be trimmed,
in Islamic belief, as they are thought to be
“
honoured guests”
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