Alberto Martínez García

KASBAH XXL . Tanger

Alberto Martínez García . PFC – ESCUELA TÉCNICA SUPERIOR DE ARQUITECTURA DE MADRID

Kasbah XXL is an experimental project which attempts to give a solution to the development of new urban settlements produced by migrations from the countryside to the city. It is placed next to the new industrial port of Tanger-med (Morocco), where an ambitious investment from the government is attracting new citizens not only from Africa but also from Europe.

[ KASBAH XXL ]
The approach to this projects in based on two specific ideas: The first concept is how to deal with the large and industrial scale of the landscape; it is proposed to concentrate the city in single buildings with a prominent presence on the landscape, instead of developing a small village without any landscape linkage with the port. Secondly, the connection with the inhabitants is through an emblematic local housing typology, the traditional Kasbah. By using this strategy, the generic megastructure becomes more familiar for the citizens.
[ THE DOMESTICITY IN A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT ]
The rigid exterior is contrasted with a colorful interior. The exterior geometry provides a shelter to the inhabitants of the Kasbah XXL. The main feature of this interior is the community corridors. They remind us to a tridimensional souk: they have different connection through stairs and footbridges and an enough width to provide people meet in out of their homes.
Moreover this contrast exterior/interior provides better climate control within the building. Since the weather of Morocco is hot and dry, this souk gives enough shadow for staying outside their houses in summer.