The Riads of Morocco as tourist accommodation products: characteristics and potentialities

Abstract

Riad and dar ‘house’ are frequently confused, but with the following elements, we can tell the difference. Riads are likewise larger and more spacious than dars, although not to the level “ground floor + first floor”, as they are designed for almost four generations of the same family under one roof. Riads feature an exterior façade comprising a blind wall to 8 meters high, completely neutral, with nearly no windows. These Riads were erected to prevent indiscreet eyes from seeing inside.  In the middle of the Riad, there is a fountain, richly decorated in zellige ‘tiles’ and carved plaster, surrounded by four separate gardens, containing lemon, fig, mint trees…, giving off a subtle fragrance for the locals. In Morocco, Riads are very common in the old ‘Médinas’. These houses benefit from a very rich history made through its own architecture. They were initially houses of notables, keen to protect the privacy of their families. Nowadays, Riads have been restored for a touristic objective as guest houses where the visitor encounters a comfy area, frozen in another time. Rabat, Meknes, Fez, and Marrakech are the cities that have been nominated for the World Heritage by UNESCO. This list is not complete, but these cities were chosen to expand the Riad phenomenon in the country. In this paper, we will discover the history of the Riads through their architecture giving some examples.

Keywords: Riad, Architecture, Morocco, Médina, Tourist, Morocco