Shared Practices – Architecture between Switzerland and Morocco (1930–1990)

The project focuses on two key dynamics: (1) Swiss architects and engineers who contributed to projects in Morocco, and (2) Moroccan architects who studied in Switzerland and returned to shape the built environment in their home country. The study examines a wide range of buildings designed and constructed during this period — many of which have received little or no scholarly attention to date. Examples include Dar Saada in Casablanca (1935), designed by Lucerne architect Erwin Hinnen, and the Développement touristique au Nord du Maroc led by Moroccan architect Abdellatif Alami in the 1970s.

The research relies on primary sources from Swiss archives (e.g., gta Archives ETH Zürich, Archives Architecture Genève HEPIA) and Moroccan institutions (e.g., Municipal Archives of Casablanca, the Moroccan Order of Architects), complemented by field interviews with current users and inhabitants of the buildings. The project is co-led by Prof. Dr. Maxime Zaugg, Professor of the History and Theory of Urban Design at ZHAW, and Dr. Lahbib El Moumni, Director of Studies at the EAC – École d’Architecture in Casablanca and co-founder of MAMMA (Mémoire des Architectes Modernes Marocains). The collaboration is supported by the Swiss Embassy in Morocco.

The expected outputs include a trilingual database of Swiss–Moroccan shared practices, followed by a co-curated exhibition in Morocco, and an accompanying book publication. By generating new knowledge, strengthening institutional links, and engaging with broader publics, the project lays the groundwork for a sustained Swiss–Moroccan research partnership and follow-up funding research applications.