Palais Rhoul Dakhla – Moroccan Craft and Local Materials

A World Shaped as a Living Artwork

The Palais Rhoul was built and furnished with materials and objects sourced from Moroccan craftsmen. Nothing in the décor is mass-produced. Each piece was made by hand, selected for its origin and its fit with the building.

The approach

The interior of the Palais Rhoul was not designed around trends. Each object was either custom-made or sourced directly from artisans across Morocco — carpenters, potters, embroiderers, weavers. The result is a coherent interior that reflects the people who made it rather than a catalogue.

Ahmed, blacksmith from Taroudant

Among the craftsmen who worked on the Palais Rhoul, Ahmed is one of the most visible. A blacksmith from the old medina of Taroudant, he has worked wrought iron since he was 12 years old. His workshop uses no industrial machinery. For the Palais Rhoul, he made the balconies, skylights and door handles — all carved by hand.

Materials

Thuya wood from the Middle Atlas. Raw wool from the High Plateaus. Recycled copper. Natural lime-based plasters. All materials were chosen for their local origin, their durability and their behaviour in a desert climate — how they respond to heat, light and wind. No synthetic finishes, no imported substitutes.

Production

Every piece took time. Natural dyes dried in the sun. Ironwork was shaped by hand. Woodwork followed the grain of each piece. This pace of production is deliberate — it is what distinguishes handmade objects from replicated ones.

Local and economic impact

Each collaboration with a local craftsman supports a workshop and a supply chain that stays within the region. The Palais Rhoul prioritises short circuits, recycled materials and direct relationships with producers. This approach extends to construction and renovation, where reclaimed materials are used wherever possible.

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Behind the Scenes of Creation: A Visual Immersion

A Curiosity Cabinet