Representatives of the Holcim Foundation Awards Acknowledgement prize 2011 Africa Middle East winner ‘Place Lalla Yeddouna in Morocco: Urban precinct reconstruction and rehabilitation, Fez, Morocco’ (l-r): Michel Mossessian and José Marquez, Mossessian & Partners, United Kingdom.
The Place Lalla Yeddouna project aims to breathe new life into a historic civic hub in the heart of Fez’s UNESCO-listed medina. Once a vital link between both sides of the old city, the area had become disconnected, its riverfront neglected, and its social role diminished. The vision for revitalisation is deeply rooted in restoring this sense of connection—between people, place, and the river that runs through it.
By Michel Mossessian - mossessian & partners, London, ENG, United Kingdom and
Led by Mossessian Architecture in collaboration with Yassir Khalil Studio, the project reimagines Place Lalla Yeddouna as an open, welcoming urban room—an inclusive space that fosters social interaction and community identity. Inspired by the Moroccan riad, with its interplay of public and private realms, the square has become a shared gathering space for residents and visitors alike, young and old. The river, once ignored, is now a defining urban feature, shaping the flow of movement and reconnection throughout the medina.
Project Status: Completed 2019
Project authors
mossessian & partners
United Kingdom
Yassir Khalil Studio
Morocco
Completed in 2019, the 7,400 m² redevelopment revitalised a historically significant urban precinct through a careful balance of conservation and contemporary design. Eleven historic buildings were restored, while eight non-significant structures were reconstructed to better serve modern uses. Central to the transformation was the rehabilitation of the 12th-century Bin Lamdoun Bridge and the reconnection of the riverfront—now fully reintegrated into the urban fabric.
The design approach emphasises the space between buildings, sculpting contiguous public zones that support the social and spatial rhythms of the neighbourhood. Drawing on Islamic design principles—geometry, repetition, and variation—the project introduces a contemporary architectural language that honours the Moroccan vernacular. Outdoor galleries and tiled surfaces created by local artisans define each space, aiding navigation and improving thermal comfort.
A mixed-use program now supports over 50,000 master artisans and students, anchored by artisan workshops, educational spaces, cafés, shops, and public courtyards. These interventions have helped establish Place Lalla Yeddouna as a catalyst for artisan development, economic vitality, and community cohesion.
Environmental sustainability is embedded into the architecture through passive design strategies rooted in traditional Moroccan know-how. Optimising sun, wind, and thermal mass ensures natural ventilation, ambient comfort, and energy efficiency—grounding the architecture in its environmental and cultural context.
Today, Place Lalla Yeddouna stands as a model for heritage-led urban regeneration, where community, craft, and climate-responsive design come together to shape a resilient future for the medina of Fez.
The jury recognizes that the transformation of this unique yet particularly neglected site on the banks of Fez River will not only contribute to the built environment but will also improve the poor labor and economic conditions of the native copperplate and leatherworks artisans that dominate the site. It is expected that the improvement of this site will become a catalyst for the development of surrounding areas with positive social impact that will not end at the site’s boundaries.
Our approach is rooted in respect for the unique urban fabric of the site—Fez’s medina, the world’s largest car-free urban zone and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Guided by the intelligence of traditional Moroccan architecture, our sustainability strategy aims to create a replicable model for future rehabilitation projects in the medina.
The project preserves historic buildings, some dating back to the 14th century, reconfiguring them for new, community-oriented uses. New construction will be sensitively integrated, respecting the scale, massing, and positioning of the existing urban fabric—complementing rather than imitating the past. These spaces will bring together a community of artisans, fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and continuity across generations.
As part of the U.S. Millennium Challenge initiative, which seeks to reduce poverty through economic growth, the Artisan and Fez Medina Project is backed by a $111 million investment supporting 1,000 students and 50,000 master artisans.
In addition to the design and rehabilitation of the site, the project includes literacy and vocational training for artisans. The new development will significantly improve working conditions, and introduce shared public spaces for education, collaboration, and community engagement—empowering artisans through opportunity and visibility.
A passive environmental strategy is central to the project’s low-carbon footprint. Shading, natural ventilation, and thermal mass will ensure comfortable indoor climates with minimal energy use.
Energy will be generated from rooftop solar installations and solar canopies on a nearby parking lot. Urban orientation will capitalise on cooling westerly winds via shaded pedestrian streets, while hot southern winds will be deflected using wind towers that harness pressure differentials and natural stack ventilation.
Construction will prioritise the use of local and naturally sourced materials, reinforcing environmental stewardship through regionally appropriate building techniques.
Our sustainability approach is also economically strategic. Passive design and locally sourced materials reduce operational and construction costs.
The revitalisation of artisan spaces will raise living and working standards, enhancing productivity and earnings for craft workers. The site will also host new economic opportunities through facilities such as a hotel, cafés, restaurants, and a tourist information centre—generating income and attracting both local and international visitors to the Medina.
The central design challenge is to reunify a fragmented urban landscape while preserving its distinct character and cultural identity.
Our approach draws on a deep analysis of the medina’s organic growth and daily rhythms. Buildings are scaled and massed according to the city’s internal logic, creating a coherent extension of the existing context.
A new connection between Place Lalla Yeddouna and the river—currently hidden by obstructing structures—will be revealed through carefully aligned alleyways and courtyards.
New buildings will occupy the footprint of those replaced, forming clusters of familiar archetypes that align with traditional circulation patterns. These modest interventions offer visual and spatial continuity while forming a blueprint for future development in the medina.
Project Update
Fes, Fez-Meknès, Morocco
MIPIM Architectural Review Future Project Awards
London, United Kingdom
Holcim Awards
Casablanca, Morocco
