Marrakech Design is a Swedish design firm that has combined traditional Moroccan design with Scandinavian minimalism, and now the renowned architectural firm Claesson Koivisto Rune has joined the fray with three new tile designs that are bound to transform even the most dull home.
First perfected in southern France in the 19th century, a special kind of encaustic hand made tile is particularly prevalent throughout Morocco.
Go into even the most downtrodden hostel or Riad in Marrakech and you will find walls and floors adorned with the small cement squares that have helped to give this city its special ambience.
“We have designed three patterns – Dandelion, Stone and Casa – each of which is available in several colours,” says Claesson Koivisto Rune.
“The cement tiles are handmade in Marrakech, Morocco with a traditional manufacturing method. The patterns are obviously inspired by classical Arabic geometry. Although created by Scandinavians.”
One of the world’s most prominent architecture firms, Claesson Koivisto Rune are responsible for such marvels as the Örsta Gallery building in Kumla, Sfera Building culture house in Kyoto and Nobis Hotel Stockholm.
They have only recently expanded their repertoire by turning to product design, which they infuse with the same minimalist aesthetic that makes their architecture so popular.
Albeit inspired by traditional Arabic designs and infused with an unmistakable Moroccan spirit, the new tiles are nonetheless very different than anything we have seen throughout our travels through the country.
Even so, they are gorgeous, and we wouldn’t at all mind having them in our own homes.
“By laying the tiles in various ways each pattern opens the opportunity to create several new different macro-patterns. Including a random factor that provides non-repetitive formations,” the group wrote in a recent statement.
“Complicated to describe in words. Self-evident at sight.”
Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
Really cool now the question how to get the products into Home depot LOL $$$$$$$$$$