On the southern edge of Marrakech, facing the Atlas Mountains, two villas – 2.5 and 3.6 – mirror each other. across two plots, distilling a single architectural idea into two scales. Compact in form yet spatially generous, they unfold as variations of the same bioclimatic and constructive system. Each villa pairs two archetypes: the Kasbah, a dense, protective mass in compressed earth brick, and the Menzeh, a lighter, open concrete frame. The Kasbah houses the service and thermal core; the Menzeh opens the living spaces to the garden and horizon. At ground. level, domestic functions are condensed into a 4-metre-wide strip, liberating a continuous living space that flows. toward shaded terraces and the landscape. Upstairs, bedrooms alternate between the intimacy of the Kasbah and the openness of the Menzeh, each enjoying framed views of the Atlas or the Palmeraie.

GROUNDED IN THE MARRAKCHI LANDSCAPE
Materiality and form draw directly from the region’s heritage: raw earth and ocre lime-plaster for mass and inertia, board-formed concrete for lightness and structure, shaded loggias, brise-soleil and double skins for protection. The villas’ compact volumes free generous gardens planted with olive and citrus trees, anchored in a water-wise landscape strategy.

CLIMATE-RESPONSIVE DESIGN
Orientation, massing and structure are tuned for passive performance. The Kasbah’s thick earthen walls act as a thermal battery; a puits provençal and vertical ventilation shaft move air naturally through the house, regulating humidity and temperature. Roof gardens add insulation, while modular façades and deep brise-soleil filter the harsh summer sun without denying winter light.

ECONOMY AND REPRODUCIBILITY
A 3 × 3 m concrete frame, modular infills in earth, glass and cork, and a landscape-integrated service band form a construction system designed for replication in various contexts. Local craftsmanship – earth masonry, tadelakt, carpentry, wrought iron – ensures territorial identity while enabling controlled, high-quality execution.