OUALALOU + CHOI reveals photos of the morocco pavilion ahead of expo 2020 dubai

OUALALOU + CHOI shares new images of its morocco pavilion as the anticipation builds for expo 2020 dubai later this year. comprised of 22 stacked volumes, the building features a massive 4,000 sqm, 33-meter-high rammed earth façade — the biggest of its kind. the pavilion pays tribute to traditional moroccan design and construction techniques and aims to show how they could be applied to contemporary urban contexts. 

image © archmospheres (also main image)

the rammed earth construction not only offers a visual connection to traditional morrocan architecture, it also contributes to the passive cooling of the building along with wooden interior façades that double as sunscreens. OUALALOU + CHOI hopes the rammed earth structure is an example of how traditional moroccan building methods can inspire more sustainable models of urban development.

image © archmospheres

the morocco pavilion comprises 14 exhibition spaces, a traditional moroccan restaurant, a tea room, a modern street food area, a shop, an event space, an office space, and a lounge. the program is organized vertically around a soaring inner courtyard, an element reminiscent of traditional moroccan architecture. a continuous ‘inner street’ connects the spaces and guides visitors around a set route from the top floor to ground level.

image © archmospheres

along the set path of sequential exhibition spaces, visitors can experience different regions and cultures of morocco as well as moments of pause and framed views of the surrounding expo as they descend. alternative means of traveling between levels can be found in the building’s eastern core, where a 15 sqm elevating platform and exhibition space can bring up to 50 people at a time from the ground to the seventh floor.

image © archmospheres

construction of the morocco pavilion is set to be complete by august ahead of the expo opening in october 2021. after the event concludes, the building will be converted into a housing complex.

see more pavilions planned for expo 2020 dubai on designboom here.

image © archmospheres

image © archmospheres

image © archmospheres

image © OUALALOU + CHOI

image © OUALALOU + CHOI

image © archmospheres

image © archmospheres

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project info:

name: morocco pavilion – expo 2020 dubai
status: completion august 2021
client: kingdom of morocco pavilion – expo 2020 dubai
program: exhibition, food and beverage (traditional moroccan restaurant, tea room, modern street food area), lounge, event space, office, shop
site area: 1,467 sqm / 15,790 sqft
GFA: 6,057 sqm / 65,197 sqft
location: dubai, UAE

architects: OUALALOU + CHOI
design principals: tarik oualalou, linna choi
design team: alia ben ammar (site architect), daniel larré (project architect), chloé zimmermann, daniele pasin, alexandre beaudouin-lafon
consultants: earth structures group
PMC: mace
engineering: SETEC, e.construct
façade engineer: TESS
local architect: e.construct
perspectives: metrochrome

photography: archmospheres, OUALALOU + CHOI