Mosque architecture and sustainable materials: (Re)discovering raw earth

In Morocco, many earthen edifices built in the distant past are still standing up to the stresses and strains of the environment. The Kasbah d'Ait Ben Haddou in Ouarzazate, the ramparts of the ancient Medinas and Koutoubia in Marrakech are just a few examples of Morocco's rich heritage and the remarkable performance of earthen constructions.
Marrakech's soil abounds in materials of varying lithological nature (silts, silty silts, calcareous silts, clayey gravels, silty gravels), which can be used in earthen construction. They are characterized by the presence of limestone inclusions and crusts, especially in the northern part of the town. These limestone formations exhibit variable grain size and plasticity depending on their depositional conditions and carbonate content, and are characterized by high in-place compactness.
The medina of Marrakech offers non-organic soils that are not too clayey, more or less sandy in the south and more carbonated in the north. The best soils for construction are to be found in the soil spindle proposed by CRATerre.
This work highlights earthen architecture in sites around the city of Marrakech, which are potentially rich in raw earth resources, suitable for promoting construction.