THE MYSTERY
BEHIND THE WALLS
Walking to enter the heart of a culture, one human story at a time.
Morocco, 2023
Roles: Experience Designer
DESCRIPTIONIn the labyrinthine alleys of the Medina of Marrakech — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a living testament to centuries of culture — Mystery Behind Walls invited participants to weave themselves into the invisible fabric of the city. Created by Isabella Nardini for the Experience House residency, this urban experience was a living exploration of intimacy, culture, and the serendipity that arises when strangers step into stories.
Participants — mostly foreigners — were challenged not to merely observe, but to dive into the city’s soul. Each group was given cryptic hints leading them to discover and embody historical figures of the Medina. In the process, they were tasked with seeking human connection: bartering with merchants, sharing tea with local families, learning traditions directly from those who carried them forward.
This was not a race against time, but a race toward understanding — blending urban exploration, storytelling, performance, and human connection into a sensorial map of Marrakech's spirit.
EXPERIENCE DYNAMICSTeams deciphered clues and navigated the maze-like streets.
They bartered in bustling souks, integrating into the rhythms of everyday life.
They sought invitations into Moroccan homes — a sacred trust — to share tea and stories.
Every team ultimately co-created a live storytelling performance based on the character they had uncovered.
The experience challenged participants to connect beyond appearances, to move through unknown territory with reverence, and to embrace vulnerability as a gateway to culture.
Each step, negotiation, laugh, and shared cup of tea became part of an ephemeral tapestry of mutual discovery.
Through "Mystery Behind Walls," walking turned into a political and poetic act: to walk was to enter the hidden life of a place, not merely its surface.
