In 2011, the mining and chemical corporation OCP Group organized an international competition for the campus of the Polytechnic University on the outskirts of Ben Gerir in central Morocco: this 55 hectare area was to become the core of the future Green City of Mohammed VI. The winner was the Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura project: the architects proposed to create an urban form based on the mutual reinforcement of local cultural traditions and European practices. The decisive role was played by the proximity to the world famous historical cities - Fez, Meknes, Rabat, Marrakesh. Bofill set a goal to reproduce the spirit of local urban planning, which allowed the project to reflect the Moroccan culture and history of the place, as well as to adapt it to climatic conditions. To date, the first two stages of the campus have been completed.
The geometrically adjusted master plan with narrow streets, squares and a clearly defined central axis refers to the Moroccan city with its main square and pedestrian street. Covered streets, courtyards and gardens bring students and teachers together, stimulating synergy of ideas and heightening a sense of community. The campus grid fits perfectly into the future Green City, facilitating interaction with it and providing functional flexibility. The volumes of buildings are largely determined by urban planning restrictions: the maximum building density and a height of no more than 21 m.
The architecture of the complex is based on the motif of a square, which goes back to traditional Arabic forms: carved mashrabiya lattices and geometric Arab-Andalusian arabesques. Who else but a Spanish architect can feel such subtleties of Moorish architecture! These motifs are found in openings and arcades. At the same time, the texture of the plaster and the color scheme are reminiscent of Ksar, a Berber fortress city in the desert. Contrast is set by the canopy - an avant-garde mathematically calculated pergola. For landscaping, olive trees, cypresses and palms, which have the status of a symbol for the kingdom, are used.
Tier 1A includes the Industrial Management School (EMINES) and student residences. Queue 1B - Geology and Mining Research Center, a congress center, an office building for the OCP Group, a club with a restaurant, and two residential clusters for 325 students. Both stages include sports facilities and car parks. In the future, five research institutions and a training center, a restaurant, a teaching area, a student and medical center, as well as educational buildings located around the area in the south of the campus, a hotel and the regional headquarters of the company are planned. Residential clusters will be located along the perimeter of the campus. The total area of two phases is 65,000 m2, the whole project - 300,000 m2.
The Green City of Mohammed VI is one of four sustainable cities, conceived as an expression of corporate social responsibility of the OCP Group (one of the company's giant phosphate mines is located next to Ben Guerir). Therefore, great attention was paid to the environmental and operational efficiency of the project. "Green" transport is used along two roads parallel to the pedestrian axis, while private cars are allowed only on peripheral streets from which parking is provided. Industrial construction methods are applied. The project has already received LEED NC, but is aiming for a silver certificate for buildings and a LEED Campus for a master plan.
