Morocco is a country of extremes: ultra-modern, yet still deeply traditional.

These tendencies are also the defining qualities in modern Morocco’s decorative arts. Some of the most talented and progressive architects and designers in the world are working in Morocco today. Their work is profoundly influenced by a deep-rooted veneration for the artisan traditions of the past, the centuries-old skills of the weavers, woodworkers and zillij masters.

As the superb photographs in this book show, one thing that unifies Morocco, both ancient and modern, is the dazzling use of colour.

Herbert Ypma traces the origins of the great artisan traditions and looks at the way contemporary designers continue to use these techniques. The book concludes with the work of one of Morocco’s most remarkable contemporary architects, Charles Boccara, whose designs reinterpret these influences to create work that is strikingly modern.