Masrah al-Malaki

File / Documentation

Name

176277_sv.jpg

Size

5.69 MB

Format

JPEG

Checksum (MD5)

50b726849e84f2ca4aaa54a72aed5594

Creator(s)

architect: Charles Boccara (Tunisian, 1940-)

Time period

creation date: amphitheater, 1986-2001, creation date: opera house interior, begun 1986, incomplete as of 2011

Location

Site: Gueliz (Marakesh, Marrakech, Province de, Morocco)

Cultural context

Moroccan

Description

The Théâtre Royal in Marrakech was designed by Charles Boccara, an architect born in Tunisia who grew up in Morocco. Planning for the theater began in 1978 and construction started in 1986. It was subjected to many stops and starts, and though the inauguration was held on the 19th of September, 2001, only the 1200-seat open-air theater was completed. The interior of the 800-seat opera house remained unfinished as of 2011. Nonetheless, it is considered by many to be an architectural masterpiece with its imposing dome, brick arches, marble decorations, and use of a traditional construction technique/material called "tadelakt." It refers to a nearly highly water resistant type of time plaster that is used on both interior and exterior construction in the region of Marrakech, and which can be applied through different techniques to achieve various visual effects.

exterior, construction on theater, 1993

Work type

Amphitheater (built work)

Opera house

Medium

brick

concrete

marble

plaster

Keywords

Amphitheaters

Concert halls