In the North African land of Morocco, every dar-dwelling, religious institution, or commercial building is
organized around an interior, walled courtyard that provides privacy from the bustle of urban streets and
an outdoor space for social interaction and tranquil meditation. Over the course of centuries, ornamental
schemes have evolved to incorporate not only native plant life but also intricate water features and
patterned tile work known as zellij, all of central significance to the Moroccan culture and climate.
Vitally important for providing shade and catching breezes in an arid landscape, Moroccan gardens are
designed and cultivated with vibrant color and aromatic plants. Author Achva Benzinberg Stein explores
the three main types of gardens — the simple and elegant paved patio form of the ouest ed-dar, the
more elaborately planted riyad, and the agdal, an open, cultivated landscape. Striking color photographs,
including numerous aerial views, show gardens and courtyards in Marrakech, Fez, and elsewhere.
Courtyards and Gardens
"Beautifully illustrated" and "lovely"-"serves as
a primer for any designer on the elements
necessary to achieve a successful courtyard..."
Garden Design Online
“Morocco: Courtyards and
Gardens is a significant
contribution to the field of
landscape architecture. It is
extremely well-written and
comprehensive, filled with striking
photos. (...) A must-have for
landscape architecture students
and design professionals!”
Gary Chen,
GreenExamEducation.com
Morocco:
© Achva Benzinberg Stein, FASLA 2019
Achva Benzinberg Stein
The World Bank. Ismail Serageldin; Ephim Shluger; Joan Martin-Brown (editors)
Michael Sorkin (editor)
This important collection brings together noted Israeli, Palestinian, and American architects and
urbanists to consider the physical future of Jerusalem and to offer specific proposals for making the city
functional, beautiful, and physically generous to its inhabitants' needs. The essays focus on issues of
ecology, preservation, neighborhood development, and open space. While the authors take a variety of
approaches, all agree on the necessity of sharing the city amicably. Contributors are Ghiora Aharoni,
Moustafa Bayoumi, and Jerrilyn D. Dodds; Ariella Azoulay; Rasem Badran; Stella Betts, David Leven, and
David Snyder; M. Christine Boyer; Joan Copjec; Keller Easterling; Samira Haj; Rassem Khamaisi; Romi
Khosla; Thom Mayne, Rose Mendez, and Caroline Barat; Deborah Natsios and John Young; Moshe
Safdie; Mack Scogin; Michael Sorkin and Andrei Vovk; Achva Benzinberg Stein; Amir Sumaka'i
Fink; Jafar Tukan; Dag Tvilde and Ali Ziadah; Eyal Weizman; James Wines; Lebbeus Woods; Oren
Yiftachel and Haim Yacobi; and Omar Youssef.
(more)
Guy Cooper, Gordon Taylor (Authors)
The last two decades have seen a great explosion in the diversity, functionality, and beauty of modern
garden design. The first major survey of contemporary private gardens, this book explores the
imaginative ideas behind landscape design today. Lush color photographs, supported by plans, drawings,
and lively commentary, thoroughly document gardens by twenty-eight leading landscape architects,
featuring work in the United States, Europe, Japan, and Australia.
(Read more about the featured project)
