Women's Horticulture Training Center

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Women's Horticulture Training Center
Marrakech, Morocco

In Marrakech, Morocco people: 1-desire more public green space, 2-need to produce more food, & 3-need education, especially women. This was the premise behind developing this woman’s horticulture training center. Women can gain skills from reading and writing to business management, chef, and horticulture research. They will learn skills needed to get a job to support their families as well as knowledge and tools to create their own rooftop gardens to produce their own food. The center will have a café, multipurpose space, and public courtyard for the neighborhood to enjoy. Based on the square courtyard, the structure takes advantage of daylighting and ventilation that vernacular design has perfected.

The site is in the Mellah (Jewish Quarter). There are no longer any Jews living there, but it is home to some of the poorest people in the city. The site is along the main road to enter the Mellah and is at the head of a souk (market).