Khalil Morad El Ghilali & El Mehdi Belyasmine Design a Pavilion
Amy Duong — May 23, 2025 — Art & Design
References: labiennale.org
Moroccan architects Khalil Morad El Ghilali and El Mehdi Belyasmine work together to create the Materiae Palimpsest. It is a pavilion designed to encourage visitors to take a closer look at the ancient earthen architecture and progressive engineering.
It brings attention to the future potential of Earth as a construction material. At the core of the pavilion are 72 pillars crafted from various soil forms, including rammed earth, cob, adobe, stone and brick. El Ghilali told Dezeen about the design choice. "The idea that research is turning its back to different materialities and just focusing on one material – that is, concrete – is, for us, one of the biggest losses that we've lived through in the 20th century. These norms are something that research needs to dig into."
Image Credit: Samuele Cherubini
It brings attention to the future potential of Earth as a construction material. At the core of the pavilion are 72 pillars crafted from various soil forms, including rammed earth, cob, adobe, stone and brick. El Ghilali told Dezeen about the design choice. "The idea that research is turning its back to different materialities and just focusing on one material – that is, concrete – is, for us, one of the biggest losses that we've lived through in the 20th century. These norms are something that research needs to dig into."
Image Credit: Samuele Cherubini
Trend Themes
1. Sustainable Architecture Innovation - The use of various soil forms in construction highlights a shift towards environmentally friendly building materials.
2. Earth-based Material Exploration - Exploring ancient earthen techniques like cob and adobe presents new possibilities for modern sustainable designs.
3. Renewed Interest in Ancient Techniques - Revisiting traditional building methods offers fresh perspectives on durability and ecological design approaches.
Industry Implications
1. Construction Material Manufacturing - The industry can benefit from developing and mainstreaming alternative earth-based materials like rammed earth and adobe.
2. Sustainable Building Design - Architectural firms focusing on eco-friendly materials have the chance to redefine future construction standards.
3. Environmental Engineering - This field can capitalize on integrating ancient techniques with modern innovations for climate-resilient structures.
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