Architects: Jean-François Zevaco
Location: Ouarzazate, Morocco
Year: 1961
Function: Education
The Ouarzazate Teaching Faculty, designed by Jean-François Zevaco in 1961, reflects his commitment to blending modernist architectural principles with Morocco’s regional conditions. Located in the desert city of Ouarzazate, the Brutalist structure is an educational facility that demonstrates Zevaco’s skill in adapting international modernity to local climatic and cultural factors. The use of raw concrete, courtyards, and intricate recessed facades helps the building respond naturally to the harsh desert climate, allowing for natural ventilation and shading—key features of critical regionalism.
Zeavaco’s project was part of a broader post-colonial modernization effort in Morocco, particularly in the education sector. His involvement with the Groupe des Architectes Modernes Marocains (GAMMA), a group that sought to integrate international modernism with Moroccan architectural traditions, deeply influenced his approach. The faculty building exemplifies this ethos by merging Brutalist elements with locally inspired design solutions such as courtyards, which create cooler internal environments.
Zevaco’s architectural language goes beyond the typical roughness of Brutalism. He softens the harsh concrete through delicate perforations, courtyards, and finely recessed openings, resulting in a dialogue between solid and void. This interplay of materials and light evokes the influence of Brazilian modernists like Oscar Niemeyer, whom Zevaco admired. In this way, the Ouarzazate Teaching Faculty stands as a testament to Zevaco’s ability to adapt and innovate, using architecture to bridge traditional Moroccan forms with modern techniques.
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References
Project Location
Address: Ouarzazate, Morocco
Location is for general reference and may represent a city or country, not necessarily a precise address.
