journal
17 / 11 / 2016
After the COP21 held in Paris last year, the Conference of the Cop22 takes place this year in Marrakech, on the site of Bab Ighli. This international and unavoidable event is organized under the aegis of the UN, and is aiming to solve the various problems related to climate changes.
Malka Architecture’s architectural and scenic proposal to COP22 was conducted in collaboration with Oualalou+Choi, including the construction of restaurants buildings and the monumental stage design installation of the Plenary Hall. Before everything, the approach is local, a perspective of Moroccan handicraft’s expertise, emphasizing ecology in a fundamental way.
Restaurants are places located outside the tents, a luxurious oasis along with long pools. The agora stretches perpendicularly to the main axis of the canopy, creating a large place animated by Moroccan craft shops. Framing these places, they designed two symetrical restaurants buildings, economic and ecological architectural entities, built in the rural Moroccan architectural tradition. The buildings are equipped with multiple patios, skylights and terraces. As in the Moroccan tradition, meetings happens in multiple inner patios to preserve freshness and intimacy.
This mutant Berber Moroccan habitat is a deeply rooted pragmatic vernacular architecture; these constructions allow to reintroduce within the COP22 short circuits, local, experienced in the practice of traditional construction.
Designed in collaboration with Oualalou+Choi, the Cop22’s ark is at crossroads between light architecture piece of work and monumental installation. It is a pointillist composition; a work where the base unit, wood timbers, are build systematically to become a coherent system.
Its construction system, similar to stacks of wooden game pieces of Kapla, consists of raw wood blades, both material and constructive architectural project, without any trimming or architectural siding.
Finally, in order not to increase the COP22’s carbon footprint, all scenic elements haven’t been produced specifically for this event, and will be temporarily diverted from their regular journey. After the conference, they will be distributed to local associations. For example, tents and blankets serve as agricultural sheeting. Thanks to the light and flexible wooden structure, the ARK22 will be entirely dismantled to be rebuilt as a pavillon in Marrakech’s Agdal garden.
Malka Architecture’s architectural and scenic proposal to COP22 was conducted in collaboration with Oualalou+Choi, including the construction of restaurants buildings and the monumental stage design installation of the Plenary Hall. Before everything, the approach is local, a perspective of Moroccan handicraft’s expertise, emphasizing ecology in a fundamental way.
Restaurants are places located outside the tents, a luxurious oasis along with long pools. The agora stretches perpendicularly to the main axis of the canopy, creating a large place animated by Moroccan craft shops. Framing these places, they designed two symetrical restaurants buildings, economic and ecological architectural entities, built in the rural Moroccan architectural tradition. The buildings are equipped with multiple patios, skylights and terraces. As in the Moroccan tradition, meetings happens in multiple inner patios to preserve freshness and intimacy.
This mutant Berber Moroccan habitat is a deeply rooted pragmatic vernacular architecture; these constructions allow to reintroduce within the COP22 short circuits, local, experienced in the practice of traditional construction.
Designed in collaboration with Oualalou+Choi, the Cop22’s ark is at crossroads between light architecture piece of work and monumental installation. It is a pointillist composition; a work where the base unit, wood timbers, are build systematically to become a coherent system.
Its construction system, similar to stacks of wooden game pieces of Kapla, consists of raw wood blades, both material and constructive architectural project, without any trimming or architectural siding.
Finally, in order not to increase the COP22’s carbon footprint, all scenic elements haven’t been produced specifically for this event, and will be temporarily diverted from their regular journey. After the conference, they will be distributed to local associations. For example, tents and blankets serve as agricultural sheeting. Thanks to the light and flexible wooden structure, the ARK22 will be entirely dismantled to be rebuilt as a pavillon in Marrakech’s Agdal garden.
Project: Malka Architecture in collaboration with Oualalou+Choi
Photography: Laurent Clement
Photography: Laurent Clement