Central fountain courtyard

An interior courtyard organised around a fountain or basin placed at its heart, a recurring device of riads, palaces and dwellings across the Islamic world. The water cools the air, masks noise and symbolises life. Ringed by arcades and ornamented with zellij, this courtyard forms the centre of gravity of Eastern heritage accommodation, around which the rooms and communal spaces are arranged, anchoring the property's plan and atmosphere.