Usually representing spirits, ancestors or the primordial couple, these figures were placed in shrines and treated with great respect. Through a wide range of style, scale, belief and function the couples depicted share a timeless, serene equality necessary to the continuity of their societies.

The Technology School of Guelmim/ Saad El Kabbaj, Driss Kettani, Mohamed Amine Siana

Architects: Saad El Kabbaj, Driss Kettani, Mohamed Amine Siana
Location: Southern Regions, Morocco
Project Team: Saad El Kabbaj, Driss Kettani, Mohamed Amine Siana
Project Year: 2011
Photographer: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG

Yassine El Aouni, Rachid El Maataoui
Year: October 2011 Area: 6.883m² Images:

- 29 April 2015
- Billy Mwangi
Education Centres , Materials , Students , Sustainability , Contemporary Arabic ,

The Technology School of Guelmim in Morocco is part of the development of academic institutions in the Southern regions of Morocco. The School development comprises of an amphitheatre, classrooms, workshops, TP rooms, administration buildings, library, lecturer’s offices and staff accommodation.

The architects’ concept was to provide a contemporary and modern design which was inspired by its context in terms of the location and language. The exterior design is very responsive to the site in terms of its Moroccan earthy finish but which contrasts the interiors which have been designed in a simple way with the spaces having the same language of a pure white.

The volumes and scale also contrast in trying to achieve the seriousness associated with education institutions but still trying to maintain the local architectural vocabulary.This contrasting difference in volume and scale on the outside is balanced out with the cantilevering boxes and the square and rectangular protruding windows. It is a conglomeration where the outside and inside speak different languages but have the same standards which when put together make it a successful project.

It is an architecture which inspires knowledge with a brilliance of not being able to point out the nitty gritties why. The buildings focus on linearity and are in the North-South axis with covered walkways interconnecting the various blocks and intermediate gardens between them. It also employs balance and symmetry with differentiation and segmentation in blocks which allows clarity and readability of the various entities of the project but with a consideration on thermal quality, work spaces shading of openings and the vegetation.

The building structure is done in reinforced concrete frame which cantilever on the windows to act as sun-shading elements. The building also employs use of glass, blocks which are then rendered in the Moroccan earth finish and precast concrete.

The positioning of the building with regards to the sun path allows the light to hit the development making it feel lighter although the shell is very solid.

The major details which make a difference to this institution is the generous covered walkways, cantilevers and staircase cores covered in wood and the large poured concrete paving which makes the building feel afloat from the ground.

- © The Technology School of Guelmim 06
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 03
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 04
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 01
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 02
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 05
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 07
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 08
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 10
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 11
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 09
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 12
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 13
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 15
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 17
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 14
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 16
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 19
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 22
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 18
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 20
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 21
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 23
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 24
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 26
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 25
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 27
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 29
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 28
- © The Technology School of Guelmim 30
- © The Technology School of Guelmim Masterplan 02
- © The Technology School of Guelmim Masterplan
- © The Technology School of Guelmim Google Map

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

If you want your own avatar and keep track of your discussions with the community, sign up to archiDATUM >>

SELECTED WORKS

- Nyanza Education Centre / Dominikus Stark Architekten
- 05 Apr 2016
The Central African State of Rwanda, commonly known as the "land of a thousand hills", is rarely the focus of West European interests. On...
- Royal Mansour Luxury Hotel / 3BIS Interior Architecture
- 12 Mar 2017
The Royal Mansour is the result of pure inspiration: a dream made real, and a spectacular recreation of a beautiful way of life. The very...
- Nubian Museum / Mahmoud El-Hakim
- 10 Apr 2016
The Nubian Museum celebrates the culture and civilization of the Nubian region of Egypt from prehistoric times to the present. It is loca...

CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN DIRECTORY

- House Mouton / Earthworld Architects
- 28 Jun 2016
The brief from the client required the design of a home for a family of four in a bushveld estate. The site is a bushveld plot of 1 hecta...
- FNB Westbank Building / Architect Consortium
- 28 Jun 2016
The new FNB home loans and Wesbank building in the North of Johannesburg was designed in consortium with 3 other practices. It is an ecle...
- The Reserve House / Metropole Architects
- 14 Jan 2017
The reserve house is a piece of architecture that plays duality in its design. Propped up in Forestwood on the Dolphin coast, the house r...