* Stone walls, erected according to an ancestral method

* The mortar a careful dosage of lime and earth, mixed with a small amount of cement, to increase its solidity and resistance to humidity

* Interior wall finish made of lime and sand for a matte, organic look

* Wood beams support patterned reed or slat ceiling, covered with waterproofing, a layer of natural insulation and a smooth finish

* Wood lintels over windows, doorways and space separations

The only concession made to modernity is the flooring, which will be set on a concrete slab for reasons of sturdiness and insulation.

The waterproofing of the roof is generally made with a layer of tar. The waterproofing is then covered with a layer of earth followed by a smooth finish.

Waterproof wall finish resembling a matte tadelakt can be used in the bathrooms and kitchen.

The floors are generally finished with polished cement or dess, but can also be tiled with cement, bejmat or earthenware tiles.

As many materials as possible will be extracted from the land the house is built on, or from the area. This will keeps costs down and result in a house that is in harmony with the hues and textures of its environment.

BUILDING WITH TRADITIONAL MATERIALS

Houses made of traditional materials must imperatively be built by qualified builders, as the know-how required is a veritable art that has been passed down from one generation to the next. This is tradition and cannot be improvised.

Paradoxically, crews experienced in traditional construction are not generally "licensed contractors", the latter being more used to building urban-style housing in concrete and cinder blocks.

Traditional construction comes from rural and mountain regions of Morocco. Those who have mastered its techniques are simple folk, close to nature and peasant lifestyles.

It is important to note that building a house with traditional materials is a slow process that can take from one and a half to two years. It requires great patience and tolerance of the local rhythm, religious holidays and agricultural cycles (harvests, etc...).

One of the advantages of this pace, is that it allows the house design and conception to evolve as the construction progresses, making it easier to incorporate last minute alterations and afterthoughts.

When it is correctly built, a stone house is solid, sound and well insulated against humidity and extreme temperatures. In order to avoid any structural weaknesses, it is important to scrupulously observe the safety guidelines of the craft.

A few of the rules that must be observed:

* Proper handling of lime and sufficient preparation times, to ensure the solidity of the mortar.

* Thickness and shape of walls in keeping with the weight of the roof or upper floor.

* Safe assembly of staircases.

* Correct dosage of mortar for the greatest solidity and insulation of the walls.

* Efficient consolidation of supporting structure with properly positioned beams.

* Raising of walls in stages, for ample drying time.

* Hand-shaping and carving of the stones, to maximize the walls' support capacity.

* Complete watertightness and insulation of the roofing.

* In order to avoid using reinforced concrete, the width of the rooms will be limited by the length of wood beams.

These and other simple rules are often disregarded in order to accelerate construction or increase the profit margin. This at the expense of your long-term satisfaction and safety.

It is important to note that this type of construction will always have the minor aesthetic imperfections inherent to any traditional, natural and hand-made creation. This is part of their charm.

Furthermore, if the rules of the trade are properly applied, the structural solidity of the house will leave nothing to be desired, and will even increase as it settles. Properly maintained, these homes will become more and more beautiful and solid as time goes by.