Bab Rcif is one of the main gates to the medina, or old part of the city of Fez. This door way leads from the main paved roads into the foot paths of the medina. The medina of Fez is one of the oldest in the world, and it holds an immense about of historic architecture. Bab Rcif highlights the traditional arts of Morocco and Fez. It is decorated with intricate tile work, which Fez is famous for. These tiles are so intricately laid. Each tile is hand carved to fit perfectly with the others. This amazing handiwork is lost on people walking through the doorway, since it is far above the human eye line, and so it appears to be a solid piece of tile, and not thousands of individual pieces. Furthermore, this piece of architecture is seen by most as an entrance to the medina, and just another structure. It is rarely celebrated as an individual work of art, since most people simply pass through it during the day, thinking little of it.

Bab Rcif is not only a beautiful work of art, but also an opening to a public square. The gateway marks the entrance to the medina, and after passing through it, one is in a large, modern open space. On one side there are small stands and shops, which are a continuation of the near by market. On the other side there is seating, behind which there are clothing shops. This space provides a public meeting space at the convergence place of the old city and the modern roads. Bab Rcif brings together these two concepts, old and new, in a visually stimulating way. By placing such a formidable structure between these two concepts, the architects created a streamlined connection between two contradicting concepts. This structure shows the possibilities that art works have to bring conflicting concepts together. Though Bab Rcif may seem like a simple decorative wall, it actually holds symbolic and figurative, as well as functional, value. Furthermore, there are six such gateways within the city of Fez. However, Bab Rcif’s opening to a public square highlights how public space can be used for gathering and community building, while also indicating how such a specific structure can blend differing conceptualization of spaces, both old and modern.