Postcard from Marrakech

In the medina, the maze of streets twists and narrows before opening suddenly into a busy square. A myriad of colours, the smell of spices, the sound of a craftsman at work, a conversation spilling from a doorway. The city reveals itself in fragments.

Behind the bustle of the souks is another Marrakech: a quieter world of homes, riads, workshops, funduqs, bakeries and mosques, often hidden behind simple earthen walls.

Step through the door of a riad and everything changes. These compact homes turn inwards, built around planted courtyards that bring daylight, shade and fresh air deep into the house. The courtyard is the heart of the home—somewhere to gather, escape the heat, or simply sit and pause.

There is much to learn from this, and it resonates with the courtyard housing we continue to explore at TateHindle, from Great Kneighton and Beaulieu to, more recently, Haslam Fields.

Not by copying the architecture, but by understanding what makes it work: making the most of compact spaces, responding to climate, and finding a careful balance between privacy, community and calm.

Sometimes the best ideas in architecture are the ones that have been around for centuries.