Amazon.com Review
A stunning pictorial of architecture and design,
Moroccan Style takes us to a hot, dry land bordered on the east and south by the Sahara, on the west by the Atlantic, and on the north by the Mediterranean Sea. Forbidden by the Koran to depict any living part of creation literally, Moroccans have created inventive designs, which are seen in rugs, pottery, woodwork, and especially in the famous tilework
zillij. The contrast of warm earth tones with the vivid blue of the sea and sky repeats time and again in the interiors and exteriors of the sumptuous villas presented in
Moroccan Style. "Moroccan décor is a sublime balancing act," says author Alexandra Bonfante-Warren. "A harmony of simplicity and elegant profusion."
Steeped in traditional Islamic culture, Morocco is nonetheless a very modern country, and its homes reflect this dichotomy. One home sports a modern brass door flanked by two traditional lanterns. In another, a clean-lined wrought iron and glass dining set is placed in the middle of a palatial outdoor courtyard surrounded by carved white columns. Windows are most often covered with wooden or iron openwork grilles both to block out the bright sun and to add natural ornamentation from the resulting shadows.
The number of intricate patterns used in one room can be overwhelming to the Western eye, but when an elaborately tiled floor is tempered by a dusty saffron wall, the result is both elegance and austerity. A book for those who yearn for a month in Tangiers, Moroccan Style offers a tantalizing glimpse into the distinctive artistry of one of the world's oldest cultures. --Dana Van Nest
From Library Journal
These volumes give a succinct overview of their respective architecture and interior design styles. Each gives examples from the period or region that inspired the style as well as the furnishings and decorative accessories that typify it. Color photographs showing classic and contemporary examples of each style are captioned with tips on how these touches can be incorporated into today's home. The one weakness is the lack of a list of resources from which items may be purchased. However, with other titles in this series, including English Country and Art Nouveau, to name a few, the books will be useful in professional and school design libraries. Public libraries should purchase titles in areas of particular interest.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
