DESCRIPTIVE AND ANALYTICAL STUDY OF THE DOMES AND FLOORS OF RELIGIOUS BUILDINGS IN MARRAKECH

Political and religious capital of the Maghreb and Andalusia for several centuries, the Medina of Marrakech (Morocco) has a rich architectural heritage (ramparts and monumental gates, mosques, Saadian tombs, ruins of the Badia Palace, Bahia Palace, basin and pavilion of Menara) that made UNESCO declare it a World Heritage Site in 1985. Its historical fabric is currently undergoing a general rehabilitation, accompanied by extensive research on construction methods, materials, pathologies…, with a view to preserving and publicizing an important heritage and unique know-how of our ancient craftsmen.
In this note, we will study the architectural characteristics of domes and flat floors as well as their structural and decorative evolution during the different reigning dynasties in Morocco. These elements are essential components of religious buildings, protecting the interior spaces from the weather and providing comfort to the faithful in the harsh climatic conditions of Marrakech. We have therefore focused on the most commonly used; the wooden frame called “Berchla”, and the classic flat floor called “Warka and Gaiza”.
We are also interested in the plaster muqarnas domes that were introduced in Morocco by the Almoravids (1042-1147) and that the Saadians (1554-1659) were then able to provide with an ingenious system, called “Tanfikh”, which reduces the impact of solar rays on the interior spaces and ensures their cooling.