Darian House

Authors’ Comment

The villa on Darian Street is part of a mixed urban fabric where mid- and high-rise apartment buildings coexist with low-rise single-family villas. This urban diversity forms the context in which our project adds a new layer of meaning and beauty.

The concept was born from the client’s passion for Moroccan culture: vibrant colours, curved forms, softly filtered light, rich ornamentation, inner courtyards, and intricate latticework. These elements were reinterpreted, stylised, and woven into a coherent architectural language, telling a story that unfolds from the street façade all the way to the heart of the interior. The transition from the discreet, almost austere street-facing elevations to the colourful mosaic and filigree-like furniture at the core of the house is gentle, achieved through a carefully calibrated introduction of architectural details and colour. Two key elements unify the entire composition: the arch and the lattice screen.

The arch appears both in architectural details on the façade and in the interior design: arcades, soffits, floor patterns, and subtle cut-outs in furniture. Varying in scale from metre to millimetre, the arches trace the narrative of the house. The lattice screen is used as a tool for shaping light: in windows, furniture details, and lighting fixtures, light is filtered and transformed into delicate shadows that animate the surfaces and enhance the décor. The colour palette begins with soft neutrals—white and warm greys—punctuated by carefully placed accents of blue and red in vibrant tones, tailored to each space. These are complemented by brass details, adding depth and elegance.

At the centre of the house is the inner courtyard—a “room” beneath the open sky, richly adorned with mosaic flooring, mirrors, and lush planting. Large windows open the interiors towards this courtyard, dissolving physical boundaries and creating the illusion of a spacious, continuous environment. Modern materials and detailing—recessed skirting boards, fine grooves, and slim timber inlays—are harmonised with traditional Moroccan techniques such as tadelakt plaster, giving the house a unique identity that lies somewhere between contemporary refinement and oriental reverie.