Abstract
Uncovering Morocco: Materials and Finishes
In September 2019, two Australian-based design lecturers, Nina Starkey and Michele Wake, took 32 university students on a journey in the footsteps of the Berbers to uncover the secrets of Moroccan design.
Bordered by the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea, modern Morocco is a country built on ancient civilisations and the legacy of Arabic, Jewish, French and Spanish cultures.
Each day, awoken by the reverie of the call to prayer, Nina, Michele and their students travelled long desert roads like the silk merchants before them to learn about the colours, materials and finishes unique to Morocco from artisans still practising their centuries old craft.
With the help of local connections, the group travelled the country, exploring everywhere from the backstreets of traditional landmarks to a myriad of medinas in Marrakesh and the souks of ancient Fes.
The students took to the medinas and immersed themselves in a study of the local artisanal crafts, from the colourful leathers and textiles, to the ancient trades of pottery and metalwork. Along the way, they marvelled at the hundreds of years of history carved into the walls and ceilings of the riads, mosques, palace and the madrasas.
The result is this visually stunning collection, Uncovering Morocco: Materials and Finishes, documenting the cultural fusion of different styles of architecture and interior design, to inspire those who share the same passion or simply want to learn more about the magic of modern Morocco.
Nina Starkey trained as an architect in her native Sweden before turning her hand to interior design with furniture design displayed at the Swedish Style store on Fortitude Valley’s iconic James St. In addition to lecturing in design at Billy Blue College of Design, she recently qualified as a lawyer.
London-born Michele Wake studied architecture and practiced in the USA and in the UK and was a founding member of Campbell Wake interiors after relocating to Australia, where she now lives and works as a lecturer in design at Billy Blue College of Design.
In September 2019, two Australian-based design lecturers, Nina Starkey and Michele Wake, took 32 university students on a journey in the footsteps of the Berbers to uncover the secrets of Moroccan design.
Bordered by the Atlas Mountains, the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea, modern Morocco is a country built on ancient civilisations and the legacy of Arabic, Jewish, French and Spanish cultures.
Each day, awoken by the reverie of the call to prayer, Nina, Michele and their students travelled long desert roads like the silk merchants before them to learn about the colours, materials and finishes unique to Morocco from artisans still practising their centuries old craft.
With the help of local connections, the group travelled the country, exploring everywhere from the backstreets of traditional landmarks to a myriad of medinas in Marrakesh and the souks of ancient Fes.
The students took to the medinas and immersed themselves in a study of the local artisanal crafts, from the colourful leathers and textiles, to the ancient trades of pottery and metalwork. Along the way, they marvelled at the hundreds of years of history carved into the walls and ceilings of the riads, mosques, palace and the madrasas.
The result is this visually stunning collection, Uncovering Morocco: Materials and Finishes, documenting the cultural fusion of different styles of architecture and interior design, to inspire those who share the same passion or simply want to learn more about the magic of modern Morocco.
Nina Starkey trained as an architect in her native Sweden before turning her hand to interior design with furniture design displayed at the Swedish Style store on Fortitude Valley’s iconic James St. In addition to lecturing in design at Billy Blue College of Design, she recently qualified as a lawyer.
London-born Michele Wake studied architecture and practiced in the USA and in the UK and was a founding member of Campbell Wake interiors after relocating to Australia, where she now lives and works as a lecturer in design at Billy Blue College of Design.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Type | Uncovering Morcocco- materials and finishes |
| Media of output | Physical book and ebook |
| Publisher | Kingwood Press |
| Number of pages | 194 |
| Place of Publication | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
| Edition | 1 |
| Volume | 1 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-1-64945-665-6 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-1-64945-665-6 |
| Publication status | Published - 31 Aug 2020 |
Keywords
- Morocco interior design materials architecture design