Marrakesh airport, an architectural jewel in marrakech marrakech marrakech Travel Marrakech

Tourists arrive in Marrakesh thinking about what they’re going to see and do while they’re here. From Jemaa el Fna to the traditional souks: the city is filled with interesting sites to see. Yet they often don’t realize that one of the most attractive sites is right in front of their eyes.

In fact, it’s the one place in Marrakesh that pretty much everyone visits, but without paying much attention. Last year, more than 3 million people passed through here and several films have been shot here. New York magazine Travel and Leisure named this airport one of the 13 most beautiful airports in the world. Sadly, it’s often ignored despite being essential to the city.

Variations of light
Just three kilometres from the medina, this original structure rises up under the blue sky. Built in only 11 months, it’s a building with more than 15,000 m2. Opened in 2005, and with one of its two terminals renovated in 2008 (and partially supplied with solar energy), the Marrakech-Menara Airport is modern. Construction for a third terminal is planned for 2012, increasing the annual capacity to 8 million passengers per year. Plus, the building has aluminium pannels and 72 pyramids, made from photovoltaic glass provoding some of the solar energy.

Bus this contemporary architectural feat created by Abdallah Elghrari, Serge De Pretto, CR Architecture and Patrick Puyo, reminds us, through the use of decorative motives in the windows, of classical Moroccan art. The screen process that decorates the windows is similar to moucharabieh, this balcony closed off by an Arab architecture fence, that when put in front of a window is used to watch what’s happening in the streets, wihtout being seen. The airport has used this technique, but not for the same purpose. Instead, this technique creates different light variations throughout the building, reminding us of the traditional side of the country.

An architectural example
Between innovation and culture, the airport in Marrakesh is also a place where East meets West. The rhombus on the main exterior wall is made with new materials, blending with the Arabesque paintings in the windows of the building.

Travel and Leisure described one of the terminals of this airport as, “a successful example of the marriage between traditional Islamic architecture and modern architecture”.

Often looked over, rarely admired, it’s more than just a transit hub, the Marrakesh airport is a work work of art, one that deserves a bit of recognition.

So the next time you’re waiting for take off or waiting for the customs officer, look up and admire. Representative of the city it resides in, Marrakech-Menara welcomes you to a unique city, perfectly uniting tradition and modernity.

Text Elisa Fourt
Photo DR
Translation Mandy Sinclair