Tadelakt bathrooms at Casa Al-Zaytun: tradition, matter and timeless beauty

Is tadelakt waterproof?

Yes, tadelakt is a lime coating that is waterproof but breathable to vapor. Its water resistance is achieved through a natural chemical reaction: mechanical burnishing with stone closes the pore, and the application of black soap (calcium stearate) waterproofs the surface without using plastics.

In the historic center of Canillas de Aceituno, right in the Plaza del Castillo (C/Castillo), stands Casa Al-Zaytun, a house with over three centuries of history that has been carefully rehabilitated to become a tourist accommodation full of character and memory. The house shares walls with the village church, and every corner speaks of the passage of time, care in details, and respect for what once was.

Within this project, we had the opportunity to intervene in its wonderful bathrooms, applying a continuous tadelakt coating formulated and executed by us. This ancestral technique, originating from North Africa, combines elegance and functionality, offering a silky, mineral, water-resistant and completely natural finish.

An artisanal coating, formulated to measure

For these bathrooms, we prepared our own tadelakt mortar based on air lime, following a completely artisanal process. The color was obtained with a natural iron oxide provided by Cristina, ceramist and promoter of the project, whose aesthetic sensitivity and connection with materials has been an essential part of the result.

After the manual application of the mortar, the burnishing was carried out with agate stones, which provides the smooth and slightly satiny texture so characteristic of tadelakt. Subsequently, layers of natural black soap and a final mixture of beeswax and carnauba wax were applied, acting as a natural waterproofing without completely sealing the surface, allowing it to continue breathing.

Bathrooms without joints, without artifice, but with soul

The result is warm, continuous bathrooms without joints, where reflections vary according to the light and water slides off without penetrating. Tadelakt not only coats but transforms the space, endowing it with a serene, organic, and timeless atmosphere.

Its maintenance is simple: just natural products and conscious use that respects the qualities of the material. Over time, far from deteriorating, tadelakt gains depth and patina, aging nobly and adding value to the architecture that hosts it.

Tradition and natural building in the heart of axarquía

These bathrooms at Casa Al-Zaytun represent what we defend at Alqatifa: the conscious use of living materials, the recovery of traditional techniques, and a way of building that dialogues with the environment, history, and those who will inhabit the space.

We deeply appreciate the trust and sensitivity of those who have made this project possible, and we are happy to contribute so that spaces like this recover their essence from respect, health, and the beauty of simplicity.

Are you interested in tadelakt or thinking about incorporating natural materials into your project?

Contact us and we will be delighted to advise you or answer your questions. You can also continue exploring our blog, where we share guides, experiences, and tips on traditional techniques and natural building.

We build with soul, from knowledge and respect for materials.

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