University of Liverpool Launches Digital Tool to Preserve Traditional Earth-Building Crafts in Morocco

University of Liverpool Launches Digital Tool to Preserve Traditional Earth-Building Crafts in Morocco

(IN BRIEF) Researchers from the University of Liverpool’s School of Architecture have developed Heres, a digital, open-access manual documenting traditional earth-building techniques in Southern Morocco’s M’Hamid Oasis. Created in collaboration with local artisans, the manual includes videos, cultural insights, and step-by-step guides in both English and Moroccan Arabic. Supported by Research England and Terrachidia, this resource aims to preserve knowledge of earth construction methods that are at risk of disappearing, fostering cultural heritage resilience in the region.

(PRESS RELEASE) LIVERPOOL, 14-Nov-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Researchers from the University of Liverpool’s School of Architecture have launched a pioneering open-access resource to preserve traditional earth-building techniques in Southern Morocco, which are increasingly at risk due to youth migration and the shift toward modern concrete methods. The team from the ArCHIAM Centre collaborated closely with M’Hamid Oasis communities to create Heres, an interactive, multimedia construction manual that digitally documents these techniques, allowing for future replication. In addition to step-by-step guides and videos on construction methods, Heres provides insights into the cultural and social practices associated with these crafts, including the often-overlooked roles of women.

Available in both English and Moroccan Arabic, Heres is designed as an e-publication in flipbook format that can be accessed offline on touchscreen devices, making it highly accessible. By recording live demonstrations and conducting interviews with local master builders, the research team created a digital record of knowledge traditionally passed down through generations by word of mouth. The project also included a collaborative workshop with the Ksar Ouled Driss heritage association to validate and test the manual’s technical accuracy.

Supported by Research England through a Participatory Research Fund Award, the project, titled “Supporting Heritage Resilience: Digitally Aided Transmission of Traditional Earth Building Crafts in Southern Morocco,” received further support from Terrachidia, a Spanish NGO focused on cultural heritage conservation. Dr. Giamila Quattrone, Co-Director of ArCHIAM and Principal Investigator, highlighted the importance of the community’s involvement in keeping traditional craftsmanship alive and emphasized the need to safeguard the material knowledge essential to the region’s unique architecture.

Carmen Moreno Adán, President of Terrachidia, praised the project as a meaningful collaboration that enriches heritage preservation efforts in rural Morocco, while Professor Soumyen Bandyopadhyay, Director of ArCHIAM and the Heritage Institute at the University of Liverpool, emphasized the critical role of local communities in sustaining heritage and expressed hopes to expand similar projects in other regions.

Media Contacts:

Joanne Carr
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T: +44 (0)7825 434900
E: jocarr@liverpool.ac.uk

Catrin Owen
Media Relations Manager – Humanities and Social Sciences
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E: catrin.owen@liverpool.ac.uk

Sarah Stamper
Media Relations Manager – Science and Engineering
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E: sarah.stamper@liverpool.ac.uk

Jennifer Morgan
Media Relations Manager – Health and Life Sciences
T: +44 (0)7775 547589
E: J.L.Morgan@liverpool.ac.uk

Alison Cornmell
Media Relations Manager – Health and Life Sciences
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E: Alison.Cornmell@liverpool.ac.uk

SOURCE: University of Liverpool