INTBAU Grassroots Grantee: Terrachidia’s Traditional Building and Community Work in Moroccan Oases

As we announce a new round of our INTBAU Grassroots grants for 2025, we are proud to highlight the impact of past grantees. Terrachidia, a grantee from our first round, is leading efforts to revitalise the M’hamid and Ich Oases in Morocco, focusing on preserving local traditional architecture and promoting vernacular building techniques.

Their grant project involves offering scholarships for students and professionals to join conservation workshops, and hosting a monthly talk series with experts on heritage and traditional crafts. Read on to learn more.

I. Join the Conversation: T·Talks by Terrachidia

Terrachidia’s T·Talks series brings together experts from around the world to share knowledge on topics like heritage, sustainable construction, cultural landscapes, and traditional crafts. The first session kicks off on Thursday, 7 November, with Kimberley Moyle, an Australian expert in traditional building crafts, focusing on projects in India and Nepal.

These live, monthly sessions offer an opportunity to learn from and engage with specialists in their fields.

🔊 Catch the talks live on Terrachidia’s YouTube channel once a month.

II. Workshops and Scholarships: Hands-On Learning in Morocco Oases

Terrachidia’s Oasis Campus workshops are immersive experiences designed to engage participants in the documentation and restoration of architectural heritage in Morocco’s Ich and M’hamid oases. With the support of INTBAU, scholarships were awarded to four talented students and young professionals from the Maghreb and the Mediterranean to attend the workshops, gaining hands-on experience in traditional construction techniques.

Here are the four grantees from the first workshop:

  • Zayed Benzouda (Morocco) – A dynamic young man with a background in management, Zayed is passionate about bioconstruction and traditional architecture. He also assisted with research in official institutions in Rabat.
  • Farid Bakadi (Morocco) – A geotechnical engineer with expertise in soil analysis and restoration, Farid gave a presentation during the workshop and will continue to collaborate on future projects.
  • Manal Kabiri (Morocco) – Growing up in a ksar in Errachidia, Manal brought personal experience to the workshop, working closely with local women and gaining valuable technical knowledge in architecture.
  • Claudia Alonso (Spain) – An architecture student from Madrid, Claudia’s energy and eagerness to learn helped her engage deeply with the local community and contribute to the workshop’s success.

Upcoming workshops will continue in January/February in M’hamid and in June/July or September in Ich. These workshops provide a unique platform for participants to immerse themselves in traditional building techniques while making meaningful connections with local communities.

Learn more about Terrachidia and their work by visiting their website.