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INTBAU Grassroots Grantee: traditional building and community work in Moroccan oases by Terrachidia

Posted 28 Nov 2024

With support from an INTBAU Grassroots grant, Terrachidia offers scholarships for conservation workshops and hosts expert talks on heritage, contributing to the revitalisation of Morocco’s oases and traditional architecture.

As we announce a new round of our INTBAU Grassroots grants for 2025, we are proud to highlight the impact of past grantees. Terrachidia, a grantee from our first round, is using the funding to offer scholarships to students and professionals to join hands-on conservation workshops. This training is part of the organisation’s efforts to revitalise the cultural heritage of oases in Morocco. Their work in the oases focuses on the preservation of local traditional architecture and the promotion of vernacular building techniques.

I. Workshops and scholarships: hands-on learning in Morocco oases

Terrachidia’s Oasis Campus workshops are immersive experiences designed to engage participants in the documentation and restoration of architectural heritage in Morocco’s Ich and M’hamid oases. With the support of INTBAU, Terrachidia awarded scholarships to four students and professionals from the Maghreb and the Mediterranean. This allowed the young talents to attend the workshops and gain hands-on experience in traditional construction techniques.

Meet the four awardees from the scholarship round for workshops held in July 2024.

**Manal Kabiri** (Morocco) – Growing up in a ksar in Errachidia, Manal brought personal experience to the workshop, working closely with local women and gaining valuable technical knowledge in architecture.

**Zayed Benzouda** (Morocco) – A dynamic young man with a background in management, Zayed is passionate about bioconstruction and traditional architecture. He also assisted with research in official institutions in Rabat.

**Claudia Alonso** (Spain) – An architecture student from Madrid, Claudia’s energy and eagerness to learn helped her engage deeply with the local community and contribute to the workshop’s success.

**Farid Bakadi** (Morocco) – A geotechnical engineer with expertise in soil analysis and restoration, Farid gave a presentation during the workshop and will continue to collaborate on future projects.

Workshops will continue in January/February in M’hamid and in June/July or September in Ich. These workshops provide a unique platform for participants to immerse themselves in traditional building techniques while making meaningful connections with local communities.

II. Join the Conversation: T·Talks by Terrachidia

Terrachidia’s T·Talks series brings together experts from around the world to share knowledge on topics like heritage, sustainable construction, cultural landscapes, and traditional crafts. Tune in this 5 December for a conversation with Kimberley Moyle, an Australian expert in traditional building crafts, focusing on traditional construction techniques in India and Nepal.

These live, monthly sessions offer an opportunity to learn from and engage with specialists in their fields.

🔊 Slide for more.