Echoes of the Riad is a cinematic 3D environment inspired by 12th-century Moroccan Almohad architecture and the shared visual language of al-Andalus. Following the passing of my father, the project became an opportunity to reconnect with and explore a part of my Moroccan heritage that I had long felt distant from, allowing myself to engage more openly with its cultural history while processing complex feelings of identity, grief, and belonging. I created the environment as a reflective ‘mind palace’, using symbolism and environmental storytelling to explore themes of heritage, memory, and emotional healing.

Symbolism plays an important role throughout the space. The Damask rose, Morocco’s national flower, appears throughout the environment as a recurring symbol of love, healing, and reconnection. At the same time, water holds symbolic importance in Islamic art and architecture as a source of reflection, tranquillity, and spiritual renewal.

Technically, the project combines modular modelling, custom materials, lighting, and real-time rendering to create a cohesive, atmospheric digital environment. Developed using 3ds Max, Substance Designer/Painter, and Unreal Engine 5.