Nov 2

Volubilis Visitor Centre, Volubilis, Morocco by Kilo Architecture

This is the Volubilis visitor’s centre and museum in a UNESCO World Heritage site in Morocco

The museum, the first of its kind in Morocco, is located in an exceptionally well preserved Roman town. The visitor centre aims to educate the public on the site’s significance; Volubilis was an important Roman outpost at the edge of the empire, and later became the home of Idris I, founder of the Idrisid dynasty and the leader credited with the early Islamization of Morocco and Spain.

The project is conceived as a narrow imprint on the perimeter of the ancient territory, according to the architects. The building consists of a succession of wooden volumes along an extended retaining wall, simultaneously buried and suspended in relationship to the rolling landscape.

The lack of urban development in the area leaves the Roman remains exposed and unobstructed.  In order to highlight the dramatic visual impact of the ruins upon entering the site, the volume of the museum is embedded into the hillside so that visitors do not initially perceive its presence.

Architects Kilo Architecture
Location Volubilis, Morocco
Type of Project Archaeological museum
Structural Engineers TESCO
Project Architect Tarik Oualalou
Design Team Linna Choi, Abderrahim Kassou, Tarik Oualalou
Client Ministry of culture, Kingdom of Morocco
Tender date 2004 - 2009
Start on site date May 2006
Gross internal floor area 4200 m²
Total cost 3,8 M €
Main contractor STACER
Photography credits Elio Germani

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