Marrakech – The theme "The city and water between climate change and languages" was at the centre of an international symposium organized on Tuesday in Marrakech, with the participation of research professors, engineers, and students.
This scientific meeting, initiated by the National School of Architecture of Marrakech, is part of a cycle of international meetings organized by the establishment, and the momentum accompanying the organization, in the Ochre City, of the 19th edition of the World Water Congress (December 1st to 5th).
This symposium, also held in partnership with the Department of Energy, Territory and Water Engineering of the University of Pisa, as well as the Department of Architecture and Environment of the University of Naples in Italy, aims to foster the exchange of expertise and experience between Italian teachers and engineers and their Moroccan counterparts in fields related to water, urban planning, and the relationship between architecture and water in light of current environmental challenges and urban issues.
Thus, the speakers highlighted the importance of scientific exchange between friendly countries with notable experience in the rational management of this vital resource, emphasizing the main projects developed to create a new generation of master plans that consider water as a priority in urban planning.
They also noted that, despite the rapid transformations experienced by the urban space, water continues to occupy a central place in the city, particularly in many Medinas that integrate the issue of water into their spaces, thereby reinforcing their identity.
In this regard, the director of the National School of Architecture of Marrakech, Abdelghani TaĂŻbi, insisted on the need for convergence between all actors and stakeholders in the sector, including local authorities and the Regional Council, to implement clear strategies, particularly regarding seawater desalination in the Marrakech-Safi region.
In a statement to MAP, Fatima Zahra Oufara, a professor of higher education at the same school, emphasized that the organization of this meeting, which is part of a series of scientific activities initiated by the establishment in a logic of openness to its environment, constitutes an opportunity for the exchange of expertise with international institutions and universities, such as those of Pisa and Naples, regarding issues related to water in its relationship to the city and to scientific and technical architecture.
For her part, Elisabetta Cesari, president of the Association of Friends of Tino Island in Italy, expressed her delight at participating in this meeting, which she described as an opportunity to present the experience of her association working on Tino Island, a site that holds cultural, natural, and environmental importance.
The main themes addressed during this meeting focused in particular on technical architecture related to water, water in historic cities of Morocco such as Fez and Marrakech, khettaras and traditional gardens, as well as water management in Medinas and islands surrounded by water.
This article The city and water, at the heart of an international symposium in Marrakech first appeared on MAP Express.
