Pavilion of Morocco for Expo Milan
Mention of the prize ‘Le Architetture di Expo 2015’.
Referring to the materiality and sensuality of rural construction in Morocco, the Pavilion of Morocco presents a contemporary reinterpretation of traditional earthen structures. Adobe blocks are placed within enormous pre-fabricated wooden panels which are mounted onto a wooden frame. This method adapts the use of traditional materials to industrialized construction methods. At the end of Expo Milan, the building will disappear back into the earth; the abode will disintegrate and the wooden panels will be dismantled and re-used. Responding to the Expo’s theme, « Feeding the Planet », the pavilion focuses on the notion of rurality and the diversity and richness of its territories. Stretching the entire length of its site from north to south, the pavilion leads the visitor on a metaphorical journey through the country from the Mediterranean to the Sahara, highlighting the agriculture and traditions specific to each region. The building attempts to relay an experience of the country rather than the image of the country.