Project description
The mosque is the most important public building in the ksar and in the entire oasis. Dating back to the 13th-century, historically it served a religious function, but it was also a place where people would meet and exchange knowledge.
Over the years many additions and changes have been made to it, and it is currently in very delicate condition. The building consists of spaces with different uses, and like all the architecture in the oasis it is protected behind nearly impenetrable walls of rammed earth.
Parts of the floor structure in the northern area are sunken and certain repairs that have been made have been counterproductive and have only accelerated the deterioration, like the cement mortar used to finish the columns.
THE BUILDING URGENTLY NEEDS AN INTERVENTION. WE WILL DO THIS BY TRAINING LOCAL LABORERS AND GROUPS OF VOLUNTEERS
Objectives
SAVE THE MOSQUE, PRESERVING THE CULTURAL HERITAGE AND IDENTITY OF A VILLAGE.
The work will be completed in phases:
- PHASE I_ Shoring and structural safety
- PHASE II_ Drafting of the Architectural Restoration Project
- PHASE III_ Training course for local workers
- PHASE IV_ Restoration works (Consolidation / Restoration / Reconstruction)
- PHASE V_ Artisanal work with local cooperatives of women (making rugs and mats for the mosque)
- PHASE VI_ Publication of the Project Dossier and outreach work
WE NEED DIRECT FUNDING FOR:
-Technical project
-Materials
-Labor
-Technical logistics
Activities
VOLUNTEERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE WORK PHASES
The volunteers will participate in 10-day Training Workshops scheduled at different times of the year.
HOW DO WE WORK?
We organize ourselves into various working groups and partner with the local population to define and execute the architectural intervention project.
WHAT DO WE LEARN?
We talk about essential architectural concepts and plan: the land, the history of the oasis, the urban design of villages, the arrangement of public and private buildings, etc.
We learn to interpret the evolution of buildings using Stratigraphic Reading and the Archeology of Architecture. We work in the Materials Analysis Laboratory: proportions, additives, particle sizes, etc.
We learn traditional building techniques:
-Earth ramming
-Mud bricks
-Mud and pole framing
-Earth finishes
–Tadelakt lime-based plastering
Volunteer commitment
Eight-day stay at the Oasis de M’hamid participating in the Mosque Restoration Workshop.