Sustainable Building in Hot Arid Climates

A Case Study of a Healthcare Clinic in Morocco by Article 25

Type: Mini Lecture

Duration: 45 minutes

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This mini lecture foregrounds a clinic for children with cleft lip based in Oujda, Morocco called Operation Smile Center. Designed by the London based humanitarian architecture charity, Article 25, the project was supported by Sto and Operation Smile, a non-profit medical service.

Taking the clinic as a case study, ‘Sustainable Building in Hot Arid Climates’ explores the criteria used by Article 25 to specify materials, systems and design details in a region with specific geographical and climatic demands.

We look at traditions of local vernacular architecture such as windcatchers, mashabere and their modern equivalents. We delve into the logistical planning necessary for specifying and building in North Africa: bringing together a multinational team and working with local architects and contractors to execute the project.

The challenges set by the programme of the building –as a healthcare provider with specific needs are presented, alongside material and system based solutions to the areas extreme climatic demands: balancing comfort and sustainability through well managed acoustics, moisture control, humidity and solar gain.

_{Image Credit: © Grant Smith, 2019}