Introducing – Fes iii: Dar Drouj / Staircase House. The work draws inspiration from the intricate architectural details of a traditional house, or dar, in Fes.
My work often explores imagery through the interplay of words and local dialect, using language as both narrative and visual texture. This artwork began as a continuation of my Red Box series – square compositions of hand‑embroidered text inspired by lived experience. As the design developed, I chose to stitch the piece in Darija, the Moroccan Arabic dialect spoken in Fes.
Size: Hand stitched panel measures 21 x 21cm approximately.
Story behind the work
Partway through my residency in Fes, I met a new friend. We bonded over our shared love of textiles, and she invited me to her home for a chat over a pot of mint tea. Like many homes in Fes, it was reached through a narrow alleyway and accessed via a simple, unassuming wooden door. Upon entering, I was struck by the richness of the interior – layers of intricately carved cedar wood, detailed plasterwork, and beautiful mosaics.
This piece is all about my friend’s beautiful home called Dar Drouj which translates as ‘Staircase House’
About: Dar Drouj
I first wrote the full narrative in English. Then, working with a friend in Fes, translated it into Darija to ensure the phrasing felt natural, authentic and true to the original sentiment.
“Busy streets and bustling souks … noise, dry heat and dust. Down winding sunbaked alleyways … high walls with hidden treasures … to a simple modest wooden door opening onto an oasis; a cool sanctuary of light, colour and opulence. A courtyard saturated with mosaic on walls, floors, and pillars, divided by finely carved arches, cedar doors and shutters … a haven of traditional craftsmanship and home to my new dear friend. In a large, majestic alcove framed with hand carved cedar and a large Moroccan lamp, we sat amongst the sumptuous, embroidered cushions and Berber rugs, chatting and listening to the birds overhead, enjoying a Berrad of mint tea and some caraway biscuits. Above us, two floors of bedrooms and passageways framed with intricate plasterwork surround the courtyard, connected by stairwells of cooling shade. In the early afternoon, we climbed to the roof terrace … blinking in sunlight as we re-entered the world … to gaze upon countless rooftops and the green-topped minarets of Fes … to a chorus of birdsong and the distant call to prayer.”
Original words composed by Catherine Hill and translated, with the assistance of a friend in Fes.
This piece forms part of a series shaped by time spent on a Moroccan art residency in Fes. Hand‑embroidered in vintage red Sylko thread, the work nods to one of the national colours of Morocco.
Part of a body of work on exhibition with Prism Textiles in April 2026.
