A crack in the desert

The project 'A crack in the desert' was done in a Design Studio focused on Vernacular Architecture. The goal of this project was to understand the origings of the first shelters, leading to modern livable spaces. In a time where the awareness of the impact of climate change is growing, the need to go back to a more sustainable architecture is imminent.

In this particular subject, the students were asked to build a complex of houses in the middle of the Erg Chebbi desert, in Morocco. The users would be the nomad inhabitants of the desert and it was important to take into account the difficult weather conditions.

The proposed solution is 'A Crack in The Desert'. In the Semi-desertical zone chosen, some aquifers were found to be only 8 m deep. This crack would form an excavated oasis. The narrowness would ressemble the streets of the cities of Morocco, in constant shade. The living spaces would be placed on the side, containing the earth. The access to these houses is from the outside, giving direct access through the inside to the public linear space. The roofing is solved by domes, easily made with local earth bricks.

A big scale model was fabricated, a micro climate inside the crack was recognisable.