Designed by Algerian architect Imaad Rahmouni, a former colleague of Philippe Starck who has offices in both Paris and Marrakech, the Amizmiz House in Marrakech, Morocco, sits on two tranquil acres of garden-like land. It offers peace and tranquility, while also being perfectly situated for exploring the city. The resort-like atmosphere of the home set on a two acre garden, … [Read more...]
Fluidity and function in Casablancan home
Villa Agava by Driss Kettani is projected on a north-south oriented plot and features a blind façade on the street while being largely open on the side and the back with the south oriented garden. The plan “silhouette” is the consequence of the urban rules and the need to perfectly fit with the adjoining house on the east. The disadvantageous north orientation on the … [Read more...]
Adult education centre in Morocco
The project for a 10 000sqm adult education centre, located in the south-west of Morocco in a harsh and isolated area, aspires to create a robust, world-class education facility that will give generously to its community. Site strategy: Less is more Although the given site is quite large, the building occupies half of it in order to create a compact and introverted … [Read more...]
Studio KO completes Yves Saint Laurent museum in Marrakech
As seen on Dezeen. A lace-like brickwork façade and an interior inspired by a couture jacket lining are just some of the fashion-inspired features of Studio KO's Musée Yves Saint Laurent in Marrakech. Dedicated to the work of legendary couturier Yves Saint Laurent, the 4,000-square-metre building is the first dedicated fashion museum in Africa. It includes permanent and … [Read more...]
Africa’s tallest tower
Valode&Pistre is preparing to break the ground on Africa’s tallest tower next June. More than doubling the height of Johannesburg’s 223m Carlton Centre, which has been the continent’s tallest building since 1973, the Al Noor Tower, which means Tower of Light, will most likely raise 540m on a 25-hectare site in the Moroccan city of Casablanca. The program is designed … [Read more...]
Winners of the LafargeHolcim Awards 2017 for Middle East Africa
Sustainability in building is rapidly gaining significance in the Middle East Africa region – particularly among female professionals and young graduates in architecture and engineering. This was clearly seen at the prize-handover ceremony for the regional LafargeHolcim Awards in Nairobi, Kenya. The majority of the 12 prize-winning projects dealt with education and the … [Read more...]
Stylish African architecture that will blow you away
"African architecture - beyond Cape Town's Sun-drenched cluster of beachfront modernism, at least - gets scant attention in the building and design press. But across the continent, young talent, both national and international, as well as the occasional heavy-hitting starchitect, are creating innovative, low-cost and sustainable buildings which offer lessons for architects and … [Read more...]
Profile: Saad El Kabbaj – Driss Kettani – Mohamed Amine Siana
Can you tell us a bit more about yourselves? We are three architects, each running our own office and collaborating on some important competitions and commissions. Born in 1978 in Casablanca, Saad El Kabbaj studied at the Ecole Nationale d’Architecture of Rabat, Morocco, where he graduated in 2003. During his studies, he gained some experience abroad (Greece, Tunisia and … [Read more...]