One visit, and you would apprehend that the village, stretching all along a very busy road, is without any visible core nor urban piazza / meeting place for the residents, not even next to the Church!

Our Solution

The proposed project takes full advantage of the plot’s natural configuration, and offers a unique and vigorous space organization revolving around the following ideas and featuring:

• A sense of public space with a privilege for pedestrians: The piazza offers both, and represents a clear statement for the Mazraat Yachouh and its Municipality.
• A sense of safety whereas the activity is recessed from the very busy road of the town.
• A sense of security with the police station in control of both roads with ease of accessibility for quick interventions on both sides. The said station is located on the upper entrance and extends on the west side of the plot to control the north neighborhood simultaneously from above (control tower / mirador effect).
• A sense of respect to the vernacular architecture of the neighborhood. The U shapes of the Municipality on top, and the U shape of the space below with piazzas on both levels pay a twinkling tribute to the traditional architecture with a twist of modernity.
• A sense of perfect organization with the rightful positioning of the various functions and their proximity to the related spaces or roads according to the services they offer:
  The police station and the clinics are in a “separate” part and benefit from independent access. The public library, the auditorium and the cafeteria are directly linked to the lower piazza. The municipality building on the upper piazza.
• A sense of hierarchy and communication The hierarchy is expressed vertically with the police station and the municipality representing the “Governing Authority” located on top of the building. The communication and the cultural brewing (brassage culturel) are spread over the levels below. The spaces communicate vertically through the open court flooding the lower spaces with light.
• A sense of transparency The volume bridging between the mineral branches left and right of the Municipality building is entirely in glass including its ceiling. it is covered by a thin concrete roof as protection featuring 2 circular openings and giving special lighting effects when inside the hall. This volume is also intended to keep a visual relationship with the urban neighborhood behind, and give the opportunity for any extension of the urban space towards the eastern part of the town in the future.
• A timeless design of utmost elegancy and refinement characterized by the simple and sober - even imposing - expression of the facades, as well as the use of natural materials such wood for the main facade louvers, transparent glass, chiseled (local) stone for the facade cladding, etc...
• A sense of environment and green building. The piazzas can be planted at will, and the provisions of 1m deep soil for trees is accounted for on the upper piazza. However, the remaining parts of the piazza will be treated as a raised slab to collect the rain water and store it in the water tanks to be located in the technical spaces of the basements. Planted roofs and suspended gardens are also included in the project. Low-e glass will be used in the entire project to minimize heat gains and losses. Adequate glare control is provided through the wood louvers and perforated curtains. The Ac will consist of VRV systems to minimize the running costs. High efficiency solar collectors will be used on the roofs to generate domestic hot water. Appropriate thermal insulation is adopted for the external walls.
• It also offers a surprise effect whereas visitors are drained into the project and discover the activity once on the piazza!
• The vehicular circulation is entirely separated from the pedestrian spaces. The access to the parking in the basements is located on the lowest part of the plot. - A controlled private access for the Municipality Members and Board is provided on the upper road. It also serves as a quick drop off for visitors with specific needs before going down to park in the basements. - The parking is spread over 2 (or even 1,5) basements with split levels to accommodate the required number of parking spaces while offering a clear circulation pattern inside. - 2 stairs at both edges of the building as well as the one in the open court connect the upper level with the levels below, down to the parking.

A twinkling tribute to the traditional architecture with a twist of modernity

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