Tourists arriving in Marrakech often have a long list of places they want to visit during their stay. From the bustling Jemaa El Fna square to the traditional souks: the city is replete with unique sites that make it so appealing to everyone. Yet, there's a place in Marrakech they all pass through, often without paying much attention.
Last year, this site welcomed more than three million visitors and several movies were even filmed here. The Marrakech Menara was voted by the New York-based magazine 'Travel and Leisure' as one of the 13 most beautiful airports in the world. Let's take a closer look at this often overlooked, yet vital monument to the city and its activities.
Variations of light
Just three kilometers from the Medina, an original structure stands out under the blue sky. Built in just eleven months, this building spans over 15,000 square meters. Operational since 2005, and with one of its two terminals revamped in 2008 (and partially powered by solar energy), the Marrakech Menara Airport embraces modernity.
A third terminal construction project was planned for 2012, to ultimately service 8 million passengers a year. Additionally, the structure is clad in aluminum panels and the roof features 72 photovoltaic skylights, generating a portion of its power.
But the contemporary architecture created by Abdallah Elghrari, Serge De Pretto, CR Architecture, and Patrick Puyo also reminds us, through the patterns decorating its windows, of classical Moroccan art. The serigraphs adorning them echo the moucharabieh, a screened balcony in Arabic architecture, which placed in front of a window, is used to observe the street without being seen, and to cool the dwelling.
At the airport, while the utility may differ, this window decoration (often compared to lace) creates impressive light variations in the space, highlighting the country's traditional side.
An architectural example
Blending innovation and culture, the Marrakech Airport is indeed a meeting point between East and West. The diamond shapes of the main facade, built with modern materials, blend with the arabesque paintings on the building's glasswork. 'Travel and Leisure' indeed describes one of the terminals of this airport as 'the example of successful marriage between traditional Islamic architecture and modern architecture.'
Many traverse it, yet few truly admire this extraordinary space. Marrakech Airport is more than a transit hub; it's a true work of art worth a closer look. So, next time you're waiting for boarding or arriving for passport control, open your eyes, look up, and truly see. Emblematic of the city it serves, Marrakech Menara welcomes you to a unique city that perfectly synthesizes tradition and progress.