Respecting Heritage, Celebrating the Future

Background and objective

The Agency of Partnership for Progress (APP), with its implementing partner, the Agency for the Development and Rehabilitation of the city of Fez (ADER-Fès), is issuing this competition for the design of a site in the Medina of Fez, Morocco, known as Place Lalla Yeddouna. The competition is being conducted in the context of an international development program funded by the United States of America, acting through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), in accordance with the Millennium Challenge Compact (the “Compact”) dated August 31, 2007, between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Morocco.

The Project

The competition site of approx. 7,400 sqm is located in the Medina of Fez, which is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site since 1981. Place Lalla Yeddouna is a strategic location at the nucleus of this oldest part of Fez. The Medina is a mosaic of small-scale, modest, sand-colored houses, and its endless labyrinth of narrow streets, where we can find still preserved as a living museum, an antique mode of life, full of history and shrouded in mystery.



The city of Fes and the Medina | Place Lalla Yeddouna site in the Medina of Fes (click to enlarge)

The area of Place Lalla Yeddouna, where the city was founded on the two banks of the main river in Fez (“Oued Al Jawahir”), used to be one of the key links between the two sides of the old city.

In the future, the area of Place Lalla Yeddouna shall be a vibrant mixed-use urban hub for the community as well as visitors to the Medina.

The site is expected to become a major catalyst for artisan development, with spaces for educational programs, residences, artisan production, shops, restaurants, cafés and other services. The new complex will support activities for youth and adults.

With its unique architectural character representing the regional building tradition and with its surrounding urban fabric, excellent accessibility and functionality, Place Lalla Yeddouna is expected to be a cultural site exemplary of our time and the region, and a stimulator and generator for the development of other projects in Fez, its region and Morocco.

The competition task comprises the urban design for the Place Lalla Yeddouna, the preservation of historic buildings as well as the design of new buildings.

Jury

Expert Jurors:
• Mr. Abbas El Fassi, Prime Minister, Kingdom of Morocco
• Mr. Bensalem Himmich, Minister of Culture, Kingdom of Morocco
• Mr. Anis Birou, State Secretary of Artisanat, Kingdom of Morocco
• Mr. Samuel L. Kaplan, U.S. Ambassador to The Kingdom of Morocco
• Mr. Mohammed Rharrabi, Wali of Fez, Kingdom of Morocco
• Mr. Hamid Chabat, Mayor of Fez, Kingdom of Morocco

Deputy Expert Jurors:
• Mr. Youssef El Mrabet, Advisor to the Prime Minister, Kingdom of Morocco
• Mr. Mohamed Ameziane, Architecte, Minister de la Culture, Kingdom of Morocco
• Mr. Mohammed Msellek, Director of Strategic Development and Cooperation, Secretary of State for Artisanat (SECA), Kingdom of Morocco
• Mr. Richard Gaynor, Millennium Challenge Corporation, Washington D.C./USA
• Mr. Abdelkader Nadri, President of the Regional Council of Architects of Fez/Kingdom of Morocco
• Mr. Fouad Serrhini, Director General of ADER-Fès, Fez/Kingdom of Morocco
• Mr. Mohammed Khalfi, Chef de Division de l’Urbanisme, Wilaya de Fès-Boulemane, Maroc


Architectural Jurors:
• Mr. Prof. Marc Angélil, Architect, Los Angeles/USA and Zurich/Switzerland
• Mr. Dr. Stefano Bianca, Architect, Geneva/Switzerland
• Ms.Meisa Batayneh Maani, Architect, Amman/Jordan
• Mr. David Chipperfield, Architect, London/United Kingdom
• Mr. Omar Farkhani, Architect, Rabat/Kingdom of Morocco
• Mr. Prof. Rodolfo Machado, Architect, Boston/USA and Buenos Aires/Argentina
• Mr. Prof. Matthias Sauerbruch, Architect, Berlin/Germany and Boston/USA

Deputy Architectural Jurors:
• Mr. Mohamed Habib Begdouri Achkari, Architect, Rabat/Kingdom of Morocco
• Mr. Prof. Bruno Sauer, Architect, Valencia/Spain

The jury will be supported by a number of local and international technical, environmental, and social experts.

Prizes and fees

The promoters will provide approx. USD 440,000 for prizes and fees for services rendered. The total amount was determined in relation to the size of the projects and in respect to the competition requirements.
Every participant who moves on to phase 2 and submits a detailed design concept conforming to the requirements laid down in the competition brief will receive a flat-rate fee of USD 40,000 in respect to expenses incurred.

In addition to this, the following prizes shall be awarded:

1st prize: US$ 55,000.00
2nd prize: US$ 40,000.00
3rd prize: US$ 25,000.00

The jury is entitled to unanimously decide to allocate the prize money in various amounts among the winners as long as the total remains USD 120,000.

The promoters will also fund the travel (Economy Class) and accommodation expenses for two persons to attend the Phase 2 colloquium on behalf of each Phase 2 participant.

Any other costs will not be reimbursed.

Fees and prizes are net of Moroccan taxes.

Competitors

Architects or urban planners in association with architects are eligible to participate in the competition.
Considering the competition requirements, it is suggested to secure the collaboration of landscape architects. For participation in phase 2 the involvement of building engineers as well as cost experts and other experts such as sociologists is recommended.

Eligibility

Eligible for participation are individuals who on the day of the announcement of the competition were entitled to use the occupational title “Architect” in their country of residence and, in collaboration with Architects, individuals who on the day of the announcement of the competition were entitled to use the occupational title “Urban Planner”.
Individuals from countries where the occupational title “Architect” or “Urban Planner” is not subject to statutory regulation are eligible, provided they hold a degree or similar certificate of professional aptitude that is recognized under 2005/36/EC (EU directive on recognition of professional qualifications).
Eligible for participation are also architect consortia formed of individuals and legal entities among whose statutory objectives figure planning activities relevant to the competition task, and architect consortia made up of such legal entities.
Legal entities and architect consortia must name a single authorized representative who will be responsible for the fulfilling of the competition requirements.
The authorized representative as well as all authors of competition entries must meet the eligibility criteria applying to competitors.
Notwithstanding the designation of a single authorized representative, each member of any consortium shall be jointly and severally liable for any submission by his or her consortium.
The statements made in the Declarations of Authorship form are considered legally binding.
Competitors are required to individually certify their eligibility for participation.
The eligibility of all finalists chosen in Phase 1 will be verified as a condition to their being authorized to participate in Phase 2.

Competition Schedule

More information

Organized by phase eins