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Inspirational homes- site has moved to www.urbanespaces.com
Moroccan Interiors
There are houses which simply break away from the norm in local architecture- something you've never seen before, or have been secretly hoping to find. These houses are inspirational in the way that only places can be- the feeling of having actually been there. Of course the very first entry in this segment is a house that I have not been to- a pre-war bungalow done up after the fashion of a Moroccan home. The house certainly falls under the latter category of 'houses I've been secretly hoping to find'. Nursing a Middle Eastern fixation( my favourite city is Beirut, my favourite meeting place in Singapore is kazbar and I have Rumi inscribed on my ring)- chancing upon the existence of this house in Singapore really made my heart beat that much faster. Designed by Mink Tan, the house pays resplendent homage to the owner's Moroccan heritage. With all the features associated with Moroccan architecture; the riad or courtyard, usually adorned with lush greenery and water features surrounded by a magnificent display of Moroccan tiles. All rooms typically look down into the riad and riads form the central focus of the house- serving as the welcoming tropical oasis at the point of entry and henceforth as the welcomed respite in the harsh desert climate. Elliptical lines permeate the space- from the curved arches of the doors to the circular recesses in the ceilings as well as the elliptical windows and columns around the house. Clay-like terracotta paint is used throughout the house-to give the feeling of a cool, nomadic abode.
In true Middle-Eastern style, a room has been reserved as the cigar divan, with large throw cushions aplenty, Persian rugs and the requisite narguileh. In terms of adherence to a typical Moroccan house, this house certainly does not disappoint.
Even the toilets, despite a brief flirtation with the modern, are given the feel and look of a Moroccan hamam. The toilet gives the impression of luxuriant space, with the use of tall columns, cool terracotta paint and long structural mirrors. Blue worked beautifully against the neutral colours of the toilet, lending a delightful Mediterranean accent.
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