The pavilion is a demonstration project for traditional rammed-earth techniques adapted to contemporary technology. The façade rises 34 metres, and the building comprises 22 volumes that are made of prefabricated rammed-earth panels raised on a lightweight concrete frame. The pavilion contains 14 exhibition spaces, restaurants, shops, and offices arranged around a courtyard; an inner 'street' composed of a ramp connects all the exhibition spaces and is designed as a contemporary interpretation of traditional Moroccan medinas. The building was designed to operate in an arid environment, with ambient temperatures exceeding 45°C, high solar heat gain and occasional dust storms. Mechanical air-conditioning is kept to a bare minimum, by using passive strategies of climate control, such as the thickness of the earthen walls and the large central patio which naturally ventilates and cools the building. Originally built for the Expo Dubai 2020, the pavilion was designed from the outset with its afterlife in mind. Following the exhibition, the project is being adapted into a cultural facility named the House of Arts.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture