Tadelakt
Tadelakt has long been part of the Moroccan tradition of building and architecture. The technique derives from attempts to waterproof the earthen cisterns in which people stored their drinking water. At some point, it was discovered that a waterproof, marble-like finish could be produced by smearing onto the earthen surface a special kind of lime that is found only in the hills around Marrakesh, and then polishing it with a smooth, half-cut river stone. The problem was solved and a new craft was born.
From its humble beginnings, tadelakt developed into the preferred finish for Marrakesh’s great hammans (steam baths), riads and palaces. Today, many such places still boast age-old tadelakt walls, roofs, fountains and fireplaces, as well as entire bathrooms, hammans, rooms and other living areas. The technique has evolved but the materials and tools remain the same: Marrakesh lime, natural pigments, a wooden board and a river stone.
Like Italian marmorino and other Mediterranean lime plasters, Tadelakt is a lime-pressure technique: the lime is applied wet-on-wet and dries naturally in reaction with the air. In the final stages of application, the lime is intensively polished with a stone. It is this polishing combined with the unique properties of Marrakesh lime that gives tadelakt the characteristic look and feel that we know today. The result is a magnificent, waterproof surface that is smooth, lively and very beautiful – a wonderful finish for bathrooms, hammans and other wet areas.
In its natural state, Marrakesh lime has an off-white colour, but many soft, pastel colours can be created by adding lime-resistant pigments. Stronger colours are possible as long as the quantity of pigment does not exceed 6% of the quantity of lime. Tadelakt often has little cracks: this is part of its special look and does not make the finish less strong or less waterproof.
Below are two examples of a tadelakt surface. The white one has more lining (hair-like cracks) than the red one does. The exact finish can never be completely foreseen: it depends on the lime, the composition of which tends to vary (unlike modern, factory-produced European lime).
Other factors that influence the end result include the weather conditions (humidity, heat, wind, etc.) during the application; the drying process; the skill and technique of the malêm (tadelakt craftsman); and the quality, amount and type of pigment used. Above all, both the preparation and the application must be done correctly. Tadelakt is an entirely natural product that dries in the air and does not give off any toxic fumes.
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An example with more lines running through it. On the right, tadelakt with hardly any lines.
One of the most wonderful qualities of tadelakt is its pliability. It’s like making a sculpture – you can create beautiful finishes in such an organic way. In Morocco (and, increasingly, elsewhere), there are many beautiful hammans, bathrooms, kitchens and features that are finished with this material. |
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Tadelakt is a very time-consuming and labour-intensive job: it requires a lot of patience and a lot of hard work. It might look simple, but the preparation, application and finishing need one’s full attention – and take a lot of work! |