Darj O Ktaf
An interactive learning experience inspired by Rabat cultural heritage, a hands-on puzzle that turns Almohad ornament into something you can hold, assemble and explore.
Tech In Hand led the design, prototyping and development — combining contemporary fabrication techniques with heritage-inspired storytelling to create an educational tool that makes culture tangible and accessible.
Created with the Fondation pour la Sauvegarde du Patrimoine Culturel de Rabat (FSPCR), the puzzle translates architectural and cultural references into a physical object — a playful bridge between younger generations and the city’s rich heritage.
Culture you can hold, assemble and explore.
Each piece carries a fragment of Almohad ornament — found, turned over and recognised by hand.
Heritage geometry is decoded through play, so cultural knowledge is built rather than recited.
A tactile, shared object invites younger generations to slow down and connect with the city's story.
Decoding the geometry, step by step.
Following the canon recorded by the architect Boris Maslow, we rebuilt the Almohad interlace the way the Maâlems trace it — from geometry to a physical puzzle piece you can hold.
Boris Maslow's reference
The hand-drawn construction of the Derj Oua Ktef M'Ghargar — grid, compass circles and interlace traced from the minarets of Fès.
The interlace
Straight lines connect precise segments of the circles — drawing the Almohad interlace, the Darj wa Ktaf.
The puzzle piece
The interlace is resolved into a single tessellating module — fabricated as a physical tile you can hold, assemble and explore.
Enjoyed across generations.
The puzzle drew visitors of every age — children and elders alike gathered around the table to assemble the interlace by hand.
