Issy Valley Improvement, Aït Mansour Morocco Buildings, West Moroccan Landscape Architecture Photos
Issy Valley Improvement, Aït Mansour
17 June 2022
Design: Architect Salima Naji
Location: Issy Valley, Aït Mansour, West Morocco, Northwest Africa
Issy Valley Improvement Landscape Design
General view of HUB 3 showing the pool and the children’s playground:
Photos by Amine Houari
Issy Valley Improvement, Aït Mansour in western Morocco
One part of a large government-sponsored hydro-agricultural project for the valley, this initial phase of the project focuses on the improvement of trails and facilities for rural tourists whilst improving the palm orchards and water reservoirs/collectors.
This ongoing project spans over 14 kilometres through the scenic Issy Valley in the Anti-Atlas. Its goal is to revitalise the area through sustainable tourism:
The beginning, centre and terminus of a 14-kilometre trail have been created as stone-paved circles, all using traditional techniques and materials by labourers from the 2,500 residents of the valley.
The project is resolutely focused on preserving the landscape, ecosystem, culture and architecture of the valley. Heritage is not perceived as a solidified mythical past but rather as a context-specific resource to answer contemporary challenges:
Lighting, benches, toilet facilities and signage have been installed, and some of the existing tourist facilities along the trail have been improved.
All of the interventions are minimal and seek to be “invisible” within the existing landscape and settlements.
The project aims to built with local materials and techniques in order to preserve the existing ancestral landscape:
Aerial view of the large pool in HUB 3:
Detail of the stone edge of the pool in HUB 3:
Master plan showing the six HUBs:
Drawing: Inside Outside
Three of the six sites (HUBs) redeveloped by the architects have been completed. The traditional stone oil mill still in use in the sixth HUB.
Issy Valley Improvement – Property Information
Title: Issy Valley Improvement
Award Cycle: 2020-2022 Cycle
Status: Shortlisted
Location: Aït Mansour, Morocco
Client: Touristic Development Society of Souss-Massa
Architect: Salima Naji
Completed: 2020
Country of origin: Morocco
Photos: Aga Khan Trust for Culture / Amine Houari (photographer)
2022 Aga Khan Award for Architecture Shortlist
Issy Valley Improvement, Aït Mansour images / information received 020622 from the Aga Khan Award for Architecture – AKAA
Location: Aït Mansour, Morocco, Northwest Africa
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