Design Brief
This summer house in Tangier, Morocco, with 1100 m²was designed as a holiday retreat where the client’s family and friends can gather and enjoy throughout the year. The house was envisioned as a modern, warm, and inviting space that accommodates guests from diverse cultural backgrounds, with varying expectations of privacy. Located on a gently sloping site overlooking the garden and the sea, the house is designed to take advantage of the natural landscape and views while offering flexible spaces that feel both open and private at the same time.
Location
Tangier, Morocco
Services
Architectural Design, Interior Design, And Sustainability Consulting
Date
Completed in June 2020
Budget
$400,000
02
Sustainability Principles
Sustainability was integral to the design philosophy. The house is oriented to maximize daylight and minimize the need for artificial lighting during daytime hours, while allowing prevailing winds to naturally ventilate the interior spaces. Architectural shading, pergolas, and overhangs help to cool the building envelope and reduce solar gain. The design uses the built form itself to create shaded outdoor zones and cool breezeways, enhancing thermal comfort and lowering energy consumption — all while maintaining a strong connection with nature.
03
Interior Design
The interiors build on the architectural story, weaving natural materials and Moroccan motifs into a modern, understated palette. The client’s fondness for Moroccan blue is celebrated through subtle accents on furnishings, patterned sliding screens, and decorative details. Semi-transparent sliding partitions with intricate Moroccan-inspired patterns create flexible divisions between spaces while maintaining lightness and visual continuity. The interior aesthetic combines modern, Arab, and Moroccan elements, achieving a balance of simplicity and cultural depth. A key feature is the seamless connection between indoors and outdoors: the flooring in the living area continues uninterrupted to the pool terrace, so when the doors are open, the living space feels like it extends all the way to the sea. This design gesture not only enhances the sense of openness but also creates an unforgettable holiday atmosphere where the boundaries between inside and out dissolve.
Design Philosophy
The guiding philosophy behind this project was to harmoniously blend modern design with the rich traditions of Arab and specifically Moroccan architecture. The goal was to create a home where people can feel deeply connected to the local culture — to sense its warmth, textures, and stories in every corner — while still enjoying the comfort, openness, and simplicity of contemporary living. Every space is designed to evoke a feeling of belonging, of being at ease, and of truly experiencing the essence of the place.
