Winner of an Honour Awards in the 2024 WLA Student Awards – Concept Large Design category
In the heart of a once-flourishing desert oasis, the ancient whispers of Marrakesh echo through time. The Khettaras, a network of subterranean lifelines stretching back 3,000 years, cradle the heritage of an arid land, a gift from ancient Persia. These veins of water, running deep beneath the surface, birthed lush gardens and palm groves, carrying with them the dreams of Silk Road traders and the hope of oasis cities.
But with the march of modernity—groundwater depletion, the encroachment of urban sprawl, and the quiet devastation of climate change—these sacred arteries of the earth fell silent, forgotten beneath the dust of time. Their history, once essential, became a mere echo in the sands, while around the world, the significance of these irrigation systems fades from memory.
Yet, as the earth cries out for renewal, so too does the Khettaras seek rebirth. The Marrakesh Khettaras Linear Oasis rises from the arid soils—a gesture not merely of restoration but of revival. It draws from the heart of the oasis, embracing a global vision where these ancient channels bloom once more as a solution to modern challenges: water scarcity, ecological collapse, and the relentless spread of cities.
The Spring of Oasis is a promise. It reimagines a stretch of Marrakesh’s historical canals, transforming them into a living tapestry—a linear Oasis flowing near the Medina and the Oued Issil river. Here, the beloved palm groves of Marrakesh are renewed, dancing with the rhythms of sustainable technology. Solar energy, water purification, and air condensation breathe life into these dry lands, quenching both the earth’s thirst and the spirit of the people. The khettaras pulse with water once again, seamlessly integrating stormwater management with a vision for a revitalized and thriving oasis. This spring of life nurtures more than just the soil. It sows the seeds of biodiversity, fosters community, and cultivates the minds of the next generation. A plant nursery takes root within this oasis, inviting hands to nurture and minds to learn the secrets of the earth. Dual-level parks stretch into the horizon, inviting citizens and travelers alike to pause, to listen to the ancient waters, and to partake in the beauty and serenity that only an oasis reborn can offer.
The Marrakesh Khettaras The Spring of Oasis is not just a park; it is a reawakening. It honors the timeless wisdom of traditional knowledge, entwined with the ingenuity of modern ecological thought. Together, they sing the song of renewal—a melody that preserves the landscape’s physical grace and rekindles the spiritual bonds between people and their environment.
In the Spring of Oasis, life begins anew, a living testament that the desert will bloom again, and the story of water and land, of past and present, will flow onward into the future.
The Spring of Oasis
Student Design Team: Shan He, Siyi Wu and Yu Zhang – Harvard Graduate School of Design, Master of Landscape Architecture Program.
Location: Marrakech, Morroco
Advisor: Stefan Tischer, Harvard Aga Khan Visiting Professor in Landscape Architecture.
Acknowledgments: The student team extend their gratitude to the École Nationale d’Architecture de Marrakech for their invaluable support and collaboration during the site visit and fieldwork. They are especially thankful for the assistance provided by the Director, Prof. Abdelghani Tayybi.
