Enigmatic, exotic, artisanal, rustic, seductive—just a few of the superlatives that attempt to capture the essence of Tadelakt, the plaster of Marrakech that has in recent years fascinated the imagination of the Western design world. This occurred first in France. Quite naturally as Morocco is a former French protectorate, continues to be French speaking, and remains a popular destination for holiday or retirement. French designers fell in love with the Moroccan aesthetic incorporating it into the haute couture of Parisian interior architectural design. It did not take long for Tadelakt to catch on throughout the luxury markets of Europe, the United Kingdom and United States.
A number of years ago, I accompanied a team from Venice organized by a true master of the Italian tradition, Franco Saladino, to study Tadelakt application and manufacture. We were all immediately seduced with the food, the music, the “terroir,” the culture, and of course the plasterwork of Morocco. One of my plaster colleagues in the U.S., Ryan Chivers, made a similar visit and was likewise enthralled. Ryan and I will do our best to share what we’ve learned of its tradition, manufacture, and in a subsequent article the application of Moroccan Tadelakt.