African project
Maisons Du Zoo – Morocco
Lacking hierarchy, surrounded by roads, and disconnected from its
surroundings, this conventional high-density perimeter block is blind
both to the unique identity of its site and its relationship to the city.
This project on the site of Rabat’s former zoo in Morocco seeks to do
the opposite: to redefine the neighborhood’s distinct identity and to
create a centrality at the scale of the city.
A DISTINCT IDENTITY
T
he project creates a series of open garden blocks which accommodate the required
densities without resorting to the ultra-urbanity of the existing project, presenting
a park-like experience within the landscape of the former zoo.
Within the urban project proposed by OUALALOU+CHOI on the previous site of
the city zoo, this housing project is the first of several large ‘park blocks’ to be
developed on the site. Each building block harbors a portion of the greater park
within its perimeter. Thus, the blocks collectively de-urbanize the site by creating
extremely large parks within the boundaries defined by the buildings. On one side,
the buildings present urban façades which distinguish one building from another in
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