Opening of “The Cultural House of Tapestry”: A Tribute to the Art of Weaving and the Memory of Berber Women
Marrakech – Nestled in the prestigious Laksour district, a new cultural space has just opened its doors: The Cultural House of the Carpet. More than just an exhibition venue, this Riad — built entirely in full respect of authentic Moroccan architecture — offers a unique, museum-like exploration of Moroccan carpets. Here, the carpet is not merely a product but a heritage, a coded language, and a true work of art.
The Cultural House of the Carpet: An Immersive Museum Journey Through Morocco
The Cultural House of the Carpet invites visitors on a 45-minute initiatory journey through meticulous scenography. Each room represents an iconic region of the Kingdom: from the High Atlas to the Middle Atlas, passing through Rabat and the Haouz.
Far from being a mere exhibition, each piece is accompanied by captivating storytelling and precise descriptions. The selected carpets, drawn from a private collection built over 50 years, were chosen for their invaluable historical significance (the oldest carpet dates back to the 1850s), their symbolism, the complexity of the techniques used, and sometimes their rare dimensions. Visitors can admire silk carpets, black wool carpets, goat hair carpets, square rugs, wool kilims, silk, and silver-threaded pieces, and others woven by men. The journey is complemented by a Modern Room and a “Masterpiece” room, a true sanctuary dedicated to exceptional collection carpets.
Also on display are babouches, cushions, saddle bags, as well as books on carpets and tools used by weavers (spindles, wool combs, beaters…).
A Tribute to Weavers: The Vision of an Heir
At the heart of this project is Nasser Ksikes, a fourth-generation representative of a family of merchants and collectors. This space is the culmination of a family passion and a desire for preservation.
“After studying abroad, I returned to Morocco to continue my family’s work. The important thing for me with this museum is also to honor the memory of the weavers. To pay tribute to them by revealing the hidden stories they convey in their carpets,” shares Nasser Ksikes.
As a Berber proverb states: “The carpet is an open book where the hands of women have written with wool and time the soul of a country.”
A Dive into the History of the Carpet
The cultural dimension is reinforced by a screening room showing a rare French documentary made in the 1940s. Echoing these archival images, the walls host lithographs from the same era by Jean Besancenot, an ethnologist, painter, and photographer, author of the reference work “Costumes of Morocco”, unveiling a selection of urban and rural costumes from Berber, Arab, and Jewish cultures. These works provide essential visual context, showcasing how Berber women were dressed at that time.
From Contemplation to Creation of the Carpet
The experience does not stop at mere observation. The Cultural House of the Carpet aims to be a vibrant space:
