Mastering Tadelakt in Morocco

WITH BLF MEMBER JEREMY MISTRETTA

FOUNDER, NEW AGE ARTISANS

Morocco is the birthplace of “tadelakt,” a lime plaster process and design trend that has swept the modern world.  With its inherent depth, rich history, dynamic color, and cultural significance, it’s no wonder that walls across the planet are now being coated with this coveted technique.  And like many design trends, it’s sadly being morphed, augmented, misused, and perceived as stolen by many from a country in desperate need of financial support- especially after the 2023 earthquake.  In April of 2025, nine tradesmen from around the world joined New Age Artisans and visited the North African village of Ighels to work alongside local craftsmen to restore and convert the walls of a 500-year-old once mosque into a future women and children’s center.  The charitable effort ensured that the community, the tadelakt technique and structure could thrive in their original form for centuries to come.

Tadelakt application is complex although the science is rudimentary, creating a perception of alchemy amongst our community.  When integrated with olive oil soap, and polished with a smooth river stone, the combination of calcium and soap render a hydrophobic plaster that has become a gleaming homage to both societal success and application in modern day wet areas of homes.  Information on the authentic hydraulic application is sparse as the timely layering technique has been passed down orally amongst the Berber community, which has no written language.  Driven by science and culture, the lore of this coveted technique only furthers the process’s mystery, compelling many a designer and tradesman to research markets, and obsess over its complexity.

Although our Moroccan passion project served primarily as a humanitarian effort, it also functioned as a cooperative exchange of tools, knowledge, culture, and technique as the application of the process varies globally due to the available limes, aggregates, and languages of different continents.

This collaboration amongst global plaster trades was a first of its kind with timeless lessons learned amongst the varietal participants and will ultimately curate a path for advancements in not only the render fields, but for future benevolent trade efforts, so stay tuned!

-Jeremy Mistretta

New Age Artisans