The bioclimatic features of traditional heritage architecture: Thermal comfort of the courtyard house in Morocco

The traditional courtyard house has been viewed as a complex regulating system that creates a microclimate that historically worked, and still works, in a passive way to provide acceptable thermal comfort in summer. The internal courtyard is generally described as a positive factor that can moderate extreme outdoor climatic conditions. However, some researchers have shown that the courtyard could become a negative factor from an energy efficiency point of view. For this purpose, this paper is based on a research study exploring the sustainable characteristics of Moroccan traditional housing and their climatic adaptation. The traditional courtyard house model in Rabat-Salé has been selected to analyze the bioclimatic strategies by applying the adaptive comfort approach. The work starts by using tools for climatic design, Mahoney’s tables, Givoni, and Szokolay bioclimatic charts to improve design strategies in terms of thermal comfort in both cities of Rabat and Salé. The results of the analysis are then compared with the characteristics of the Moroccan traditional courtyard houses, to verify if and how those strategies were applied. The important part of this paper concerns the analysis of the thermal behavior of the rooms surrounding the courtyard in the temperate and humid climate of Rabat-Salé. The simulation modeling of the courtyard house model in the medina of Rabat-Salé is carried out to analyze the effectiveness of different parameters to improve the indoor climate during summer and winter, including the façade orientation, the air infiltration, the surroundings, the ceiling height, the walls and roof/ceiling insulation and the shading devices. The findings reveal that Moroccan traditional courtyard houses can incorporate bioclimatic strategies to meet both thermal comfort and energy efficiency in different ways. In general, a strong correlation can be found between constructive and morphological features and climatic contexts

Two Élie and two potential heritages for the architecture of the second half of the 20th century in Morocco?

The reflection of this paper starts from the Moroccan example of architecture related to the second half of the XXth century: the projects which were first conceived and realized by the architects gathered initially in the group GAMMa, formed for the majority of them in the colonizing country, forged a “brutalist” orientation whose technique and aesthetics are strongly marked by the use of concrete. The second half of the 20th century cannot be reduced to these first decades and sooner or later it will be necessary to look back on the last decades of the 20th century, marked by the search for an alternative to the techno-productivist headlong rush of modernity. The present paper confronts while going beyond the individualities they represent, the two Moroccan Élie, the eldest: Azagury (1918 - 2009), and his younger: Mouyal (1957 ...). The first represents the interpretation adapted to Morocco of the international and global architecture of the Modern Movement, while the second, awarded by the 12th TERRA 2016 World Congress on Earthen Architecture, expresses, during the last quarter of the 20th century, an orientation towards sustainable development with the use of updated ancestral and local construction techniques (earth and stone). The resulting works will, sooner or later, have to be questioned from the point of view of their heritage, based on criteria to be rethought, to be refounded, and which the paper tries to define

A historical and social overview of the traditional houses: Riad in Fez medina and Hanok in Seoul

Some Korean and Moroccan institutions have taken essential steps to preserve the traditional houses: the Hanoks in Seoul and the Riads in Fez. Previous research on the development and rehabilitation of the traditional dwelling only includes interventions on the structural part and thermal characteristics of the traditional habitat and thus ignores the spatial configuration of the house and its transformation according to the practices and needs of today’s consumers. However, the newly developed structure and construction technology has not yet been developed and has not been activated in the market. In particular, it is causing a social debate about the authenticity of the traditional dwelling structure (Hanok and Riad). This research is to deal with the modernization process in which Hanoks and Riads are newly changing in the 21st century and will tackle the traditional dwelling about the spatial quality and social transition by using space syntax to rethink the spatial layout of the Riad and Hanok for a more flexible, durable, multi-functional space reflecting today’s lifestyle. The main problem would be to answer How to find the balance between the old and the new and how can architecture reflect the culture of a society

Swahili Architecture: A Heritage of the East Coast of Africa

Swahili architecture, which developed along the Swahili Coast in East Africa, represents a remarkable amalgamation of African, Arab, and South Asian influences. The region's cultural exchanges gave birth to the distinctive Swahili Culture while thriving trade cities like Mombasa, Mogadishu, and Zanzibar attracted merchants from India, Persia, and China. This cultural convergence also played a pivotal role in the emergence of the Swahili language, which became the widely spoken language across East Africa and the official language of Kenya and Tanzania. However, the impact of Swahili culture extends beyond language; it is also evident in the architectural heritage of the entire Swahili coast. This architectural style holds immense cultural significance and is cherished as a valuable urban asset. Certain sites, including Lamu in Kenya, Kilwa, and Stone Town in Zanzibar, have been granted UNESCO World Heritage status. The enduring allure of Swahili architecture continues to inspire contemporary building designs, celebrating and preserving the rich history and adaptability of Swahili culture to its environment

EFFECT OF VEGETATION SHADE ON SOIL TEMPERATURE

Context and backgroundThe Polytechnic University of Valencia UPV is collaborating with Valencia City Council in Spain, as part of the European GrowGreen project, to carry out a baseline study of the neighborhood, with the aim of improving the well-being of citizens and enhancing the green infrastructure of the Benicalap district.Goal and Objectives:In this research, monthly climate data recordings are made between April 2018 and July 2012, to compare the effects of different vegetation in different areas of the Benicalap park, on the temperature inside the soil as a function of the seasons.Methodology:The methodology followed is based on digital recordings of soil temperatures and humidities at two different depths: 5 cm and 15 cm, in different selected areas within the park.  The recording period runs from April 14, 2018 to July 12, 2021. Each zone contains two points where a station for measuring soil temperature and humidity has been installed. The station is equipped with a data logger (EM50, Decagon Devices, Pullman, Washington, USA) programmed to record hourly climate data. One of the three zones contains a control point at pergola level for ambient temperature and humidity data.Results:In 5 cm soil depth: The holm oak has a cooling effect (temperature reduction rate for 5 cm depth varies from 1.21°C to 3.01°C). The orange tree has a cooling effect during the cold period (temperature reduction rate varies from 0.84°C to 0.04°C) and a warming effect during the warm period (temperature increase rate at 5 cm depth is 0.66°C). The pine grove zone has a cooling effect in both the cold and warm periods (temperature reduction rate at 5 cm depth varies from 1.48°C to 2.53°C). In 15 cm soil depth: The holm oak has a greater cooling effect at 15 cm depth than at 5 cm depth (Temperature reduction rate for 15 cm depth varies from 2.51°C to 4.31°C). The orange tree has a cooling effect during both the cold and warm periods (temperature reduction rate at 15 cm depth varies from 0.64°C to 2.14°C). The pine grove zone has a cooling effect in both the cold and warm periods (temperature reduction rate at 15cm depth varies from 2.78°C to 3.83°C), and the temperatures recorded at 15 cm depth are lower than those recorded at 5 cm depth in the pine grove zone

Accessibility and access to services and facilities in Hay Mohammadi, a new urban development in Agadir, Morocco

Hay Mohammadi is the largest new development in Agadir. Located in the north-east of the city, this district spanning over 465 ha has been designed to accommodate some 100,000 inhabitants. It was planned in 2002 and in 2007 people started to move in. So far this area is still under construction. The first observations show that it suffers from a deficiency in terms of public facilities and services. In addition, problems of accessibility and mobility have been observed in this district. It appears that this new urban development has been designed to facilitate car movement at the expense of pedestrians, cyclists and other users of public space who are obliged to share roadways because neither sidewalks nor pedestrian streets are paved. In spite of the huge investment Hay Mohammadi gives the impression of a non-regulatory urban development characterized by underequipped outdoor spaces as is often the case in developing countries

Transplantation of adult Argan trees (Argania spinosa L. Skeels)

Transplantation of adult Argan trees is an important option for the conservation of this Moroccan ecological heritage plant species, especially when the land has to be cleared for development purposes. Given that adult Argan trees’ transplanting has not been investigated, this work was initiated to assess the success rate of this operation. The trees were removed from a rocky open cast cement quarry and planted in a deep soil located inside the premises of the cement plant. Two seasons were investigated, summer and winter of the year 2020. Tree preparation consisted of different canopy pruning, ranging from complete cut back to light trimming for global shaping; and proper root pruning. Regular watering was applied to the transplanted trees and gravel mulch placed on the surface of the watering pans to conserve soil moisture. The results show that Argan trees transplanted in summer resulted in 62.5% recovery, whereas those transplanted in winter reached 50%. Total branches removal (trees cut back) resulted in the highest rates of recovery independently of the season. Keywords: Adult Argan trees, Pruning, Bare roots, Transplantation, Summer, Winte

Suivi De La Cinétique Du Développement Racinaire Des Plantes Destinées A La Stabilisation Des Talus Marneux De L’axe Autoroutier Fès-Taza (Nord Du Maroc)

Le passage de l’autoroute Fès-Taza (Maroc) à travers des substrats marneux a engendré des talus particulièrement sensibles à l’érosion hydrique. En effet, sitôt confectionnés, ces talus subissent différentes formes d’érosion avec des sévérités variant avec l’intensité des pluies. Vu que la stabilisation mécanique s’est révélée difficile et trop coûteuse, les auteurs ont envisagé de faire appel au génie biologique mettant en œuvre les plantes qui contribuent au maintien du sol grâce à leur système racinaire. Ce travail concerne l’évaluation de l’effet, sur la stabilité du sol, de plusieurs espèces végétales plantées sur des talus marneux de l’axe autoroutier Fès-Taza. Des espèces prometteuses ont fait l’objet d’un suivi sous conditions contrôlées pour mieux comprendre la cinétique du développement de leurs racines. Il s’agit de: Acacia cyanophylla, Arundo donax, Medicago arborea, Prosopis pubescens, Retama monosperma et Spartium junceum. Ce suivi a été réalisé sur un substrat prélevé à partir des talus marneux de l’autoroute Fès-Taza et mis dans des mini-rhizotrons pour suivre la croissance et l’architecture du système racinaire. Acacia cyanophylla et Arundo donax, sont les espèces qui ont montré les densités racinaires les plus élevées. Medicago arborea est l’espèce qui a enregistré la vitesse moyenne d’allongement racinaire maximale parmi les espèces testées (9,3 cm/mois). Ces six espèces ont montré des caractéristiques complémentaires nécessaires au maintien des talus. On les recommande comme composition floristique dans des conditions similaires

Architecture iconique au Maroc. Deux villes pionnières, deux tours singulières

En urbanisme comme en architecture, l’espace est une véritable transcription des tendances civilisationnelles. La ville, expression par excellence des civilisations, ne cesse de se développer. Par les espaces qu’elle referme, par les édifices qu’elle comprend et qui prennent forme au fil des temps, elle ne cesse de se mettre à jour. Dans ce sens, le Maroc, pays émergent, commence à se construire une image moderne, à l’aire du temps en ayant recours à ses deux villes pionnières, Casablanca et Rabat-Salé. Ce faisant, de nombreuses constructions spectaculaires et des bâtiments emblématiques y voient le jour, œuvres des architectes usant de conceptions se distinguant par leurs structures complexes et faisant appel à des matériaux innovants. Cet article traite de la conception de deux édifices au travers la combinaison de deux notions regroupées dans leurs conceptions à savoir, la singularité de leurs architectures par rapport à leur environnement urbain et leur prouesse technologique. Le choix s’est porté sur la tour CFC (Casablanca Finance City) située dans le nouveau pôle urbain « Casablanca Finance City » et la tour de Bank of Africa, baptisée Tour Mohammed VI, située au Bouregreg, site emblématique de la conurbation Rabat-Salé