Regeneration of the Citadel of Agadir Oufella

Abstract

The Citadel of Agadir has for over six centuries been a symbol of Agadir’s importance as a trading port, as a nexus between many caravan routes and the Atlantic. Designated a Moroccan historic monument in 1932, the site was devastated by an earthquake in 1960. In 2020, sixty years after that disaster, work began on its restoration. The project included the reconstruction of historic elements such as the fortress or the medina and the creation of a visitor itinerary. The local community was moreover involved at every stage of the process. The project also included innovative earthquake-proof building techniques reviving vernacular systems and the use of local materials, stimulating the economy of the region and preserving its heritage.

Keywords

• Morocco
• Earthquake
• Earthquake-resistant construction
• Vernacular architecture
• Earthen architecture