Tangier, Morocco

DESIGN STRATEGY FOR TANGIER,MOROCCO

The dominance of the EU economy in Morocco implemented by the establishment of European companies in Morocco is now overiding it’s local based economy,this is because of the lower employment wages. This effect the local Moroccan industries as a large number of locals are working in these European companies because of better wages and benefits. As a result, there are little of income returning back to the local community and instead, to Europe.

The situation is that there is currently a lack of local medium scale industries that is of a size which can contribute to the Moroccan economy. This is partly because of the region’s demography of challenging terrains which are unbuildable by individuals.

Therefore, the proposal will introduce a platform in which medium scale local industries can accommodate on these terrains. The platforms will be built by the state to make use of the empty terrain in exchange that the occupied industries give the rooftop area as a communal centre.

The development of these industries will be based on a raised structure occupied by multi industrial units and multi usage area for the existing community. The structure will be inserted and ‘grows’ out of the existing selected terrain which are comprised of square grid units constructed for a single unit occupancy.

Eventually, these local medium industries occupied platforms will generate local employment opportunities and income which supports the Moroccan economy.

Gross Domestic Product of Morocco Ministry of Finance (2006),http://www. moroccobusinessnews.com/Morocco/About_Morocco.asp

Local employment of Morocco The world fact book (2006)

Comparison of free zones between Tangier and the rest of Morocco Ministry of Industry, Commerce and new Technologies (2005),http://www.moroccobusinessnews.com/Morocco/ Tangier.asp

The criterion of the selection process of the site justifies the economic viability and also the development of the existing community. There are altogether four criteria which focus on the East Tangier region which is where it is most prone to natural flooding. The reason why flooding is one of the factors in this process is because it emphasizes the need for a raised structure which is flood prone and can provide activity to occur at the anytime despite the annual flood situation.

Secondly, existing main roads are identified and sites are chosen nearby these roads networks for the ease of logistical purposes for the individual industries, employees and customers of the industries. Thirdly is the nearby proximity to non regulatory housing neighborhoods (these are Charf, Mgouhua and Tanja Balia neighborhood) which provide several benefits such as providing its residents with employment in the industries and also enhancing the community by factors such as connection to proper water and electricity infrastructure in the future phases of the project.

Lastly, more specific site are selected according to the nature of the challenging terrain which is quite steep sites which are often left as voids as it is too challenging to construct any infrastructure on it. This is where the state steps in and aids the community.

Site selection criteria 1: annual flooding of the East Tangier region signifies a need for a raised structure

Site selection criteria 2: Existing main and sub road networks will be able to provide adequate access for both small and large vehicles.

Site selection criteria 3: adjacent non-regulatory neighbourhoods provide local emloyment to the proposed industries

Site selection criteria 4: challenging (steep) but potential areas of east Tangier leave unused voids in the urban fabric.

Regional map of East Tangier: 5 Proposed Platforms

The economic justification of the design proposal concentrates on the balance and exchanges between the intervention of the state and the individual. By stating individual, that is the various medium scale industries that decide to settle their business in the platform and also members of the adjacent community which benefit from using the platform.

Firstly, the state chooses the proper sites and builds the basic structure of the platform. Once this has been done, individual industries are allowed to occupy the platform in exchange for the rooftop area usage for the adjacent non regulated housing neighborhood. By the time that the platform and the rooftop are occupied, the development will produce not only employment and income to the local community but also enriches the existing community that surrounds the area.

phase 1: Insertion of grid structure phase 2: Landscape sculpted according to circulation routes phase 3: Insertion of given floor plates

The individualized occupation steps in once the construction of the entire structure is completed.As random as this may seem, there are some logic behind the placement of each occupation where large units which require logistical access are placed at the lower floors and oriented towards the main road network for the ease of trucks and forklifts access. On the contrary, units which have low requirements such as offices are placed at the top floor, easier for staffs and customers to access.

The final phase of occupation is the activation of the rooftop

by the occupation of the nearby non regulated housingneighborhood and the industries. The individualizedoccupation of the rooftop will be able to provide thearea with a strong community aspect for the existingneighborhood and the individual industries together.Unit Type 1

2

Low requirement intellectual

3

industries such as real

1

estate business,IT or tourism business.The following industries require customer access and therefore located on the upper floors.

Unit Type 2

Large logistics oriented

industries such as farming andagro industries which requiresaccess of trucks into itspremises. These are locatedon the same level as the mainroad network.Unit Type 3

Small logistics access such

phase 4: Insertion of interior stairs circulation

Catalytic Phases

phase 5: Occupation of individual enterprise units in the given grid

Unit type 1: office based enterprise Unit type 2: large logistics enterprise Unit type 3: small logistics enterprise

phase 6: Activation of rooftop area by the inhabitants of the nearby non regulated housing and the industries

as forklifts which serve industries such as textile and/ or petrochemical industries. It is largely employee access oriented with low light requirment. These are located in the middle floors.

The proposed occupation and usage of the rooftop area are considered by the research on the everyday life culture and lifestyle of the locals in Tangier including usage which are entirely new to the area but seen as having potential of succeeding. These will provide a significant improvement on the surrounding area’s economy but more importantly, the sense of community and the social integration.The proposed usages are as follows:

Food market, Penned livestock market, Rugs/fabrics market, Moped stores and test drive area, Children’s playground, Outdoor Amphitheatre and a Multi Sports Facility.

The full occupation of local industries and its rooftop area also feeds into the adjacent non regulated housing neighborhoods.

Proposed usage plan of the rooftop: The Market, The Golfcourse, The Rug Stalls.

Roof plan of market place occupation

Bird eye view conceptual grid of industry uses

Elevational conceptual grid of industry uses

Flexible rooftop uses adapt to the variety of needs and time of day, allowing all members of the community to participate.

Existing Non-Regulated Housing inhabitants benefit from the thriving economic activity of the platform intervention.

Sunken open air amphitheatre provides a recreational space for the community, looking towards Tangier’s coastline.

Small to medium sized businesses are able to occupy the gridded units according to their needs. They can also modify and occupy more units depending on their future growth.

Driveway provide easy access for industrial vehicles from main road networks.

Landscaped terrain provide multiple accesss points.

Full occupation of rooftop activities and individual industrial units