October 2025
Field Trip to Casablanca for "Far Beyond 1m²: Repair and Resilience for Casablanca" Design Studio

University of Luxembourg:
Prof. Florian Hertweck and guest Prof. Carine Oberweis

University Mohammed VI Polytechnic:
Karim Rouissi and Saad Berrada

This semester, the Master in Architecture studio explored the topic “Far Beyond 1m²: Repair and Resilience for Casablanca”, addressing the challenges of soil sealing, lack of green space, and the need for new strategies of reuse in one of North Africa’s most dynamic metropolises. The studio focused on how architectural repair and adaptive transformation can enhance urban resilience while responding to housing needs and environmental pressures.

As part of the semester, students travelled to Casablanca for a week-long field trip. The visit allowed them to experience first-hand the city’s contrasts between dense urban areas, and outstanding modernist structures. The trip continued with a joint workshop in Ben Guerir, held in collaboration with students from the University Mohammed VI Polytechnic. Working in mixed groups, participants developed strategies to repair and revitalise Casablanca, starting from existing vacant and abandoned buildings.

Through on-site observations, collaborative exchanges, and design proposals, the field trip deepened the understanding of how reuse and repair can become key instruments in shaping a more resilient and inclusive urban future for Casablanca.