Project description
The proposal for the Route Kénitra (RN1) and surrounding areas, in a total length of approximately 8 km, is divided into five consecutive areas of intervention, where roadway and architectural renewal of the urban space occurred. Each area possessed specific features. As such, different intervention strategies were defined for each one, to improve and enhance their individual characteristics, while safeguarding and valuing cultural and local heritage.
At the south entrance of Salé, Zone 1, the proposal grew from the idea of transition present in this area of entrance/exit of Salé. The key element of this intervention was the old wall of Medina. Its historical symbolism was used as the support for the restructuring of the adjacent gardens. The goal was to structure the different spaces and doors of the Medina connecting them to the most recent interventions carried out there. The area was also equipped with a “Commercial Arbor” serving as a central attraction point.
The proposal for urban integration and upgrading in Zone 2, based on pre-existing facilities, centred on the Sour al-Kouass Aqueduct and the old quarry, elevating their status to that of monuments and integrating them into a wider context of valued local architectural heritage.
On the other hand, the proposal for the integration and enhancement of urban Zone 3 was developed around the understanding of the great social and cultural value of the small urban vegetable gardens that are the Sanyates. Here we proposed the creation of a green belt to connect several strategic points of the city and thus establish the “Horticultural Park of Salé”, which would consist of multiple Sanyates, properly organised and integrated into the surrounding landscape. To ensure a strong and cohesive link between the two main poles of the horticultural park, we proposed the creation of several overpasses that would, with their harmonious design, simultaneously function as urban art and ensure pedestrian mobility between the two sides of RN1. Along with this Horticultural Park, and taking into account the pre-existing infrastructures, the reorganisation of the industrial centre was potentiated.
A particular concern in rehabilitating Zone 4 was to address the incoherent, discontinuous and characterless image of the city. This concern materialised in the treatment of the pre-existing architectural, urban and landscaping elements and in the creation of new ones to enhance the route as a whole. To that end, we established a new Commercial Centre and a Sports Campus.
Finally, Zone 5 was the northern entrance and exit of Salé. Our strategy for this area was to value the residual urban space between the railway and the Kénitra road. This was achieved through the creation of a new public garden between the road and the railway.
The study of each area and the identification of their individual characteristics was the starting point of A1V2’s unique strategy to improve the road and surrounding urban spaces, integrating patrimonial and cultural references.
