926 PILLARS. A Project of Adaptive Reuse and Safeguarding of an Industrial Heritage Architecture in the Phosphate basin of Ouled Abdoun - Morocco / 926 PILASTRI. Progetto di riuso adattivo e salvaguardia di un’architettura del patrimonio industriale nel bacino fosfatico di Ouled Abdoun - Marocco

Khouribga is the largest urban hub within the Moroccan Ouled Abdoun basin, internationally renowned for its phosphate resources. The usine de séchage represents the greatest testimony of how the city dominated the world phosphate market in the first half of the 20th century. Decommissioned in the 1980s, it is now in a state of ruin. With its 926 pillars and an out-of-the-ordinary structural layout, it stands out like an abandoned cathedral on the outskirts of the city. This condition provides an opportunity to reflect on the theme of safeguarding and reuse of the industrial architectural heritage, with the aim of returning the factory to its central role within the urban network. In the context of this thesis, the preservation and re-functionalisation of the complex is planned, paying particular attention to the existing and the careful balancing of loads. The proposed uses are based on local values. The image of the factory, defined by its reinforced concrete skeleton, is not dissimilar to the fossil remains found in the sand beneath it. To valorise and return this precious wealth to the community, the theme of the museum as an infrastructure for knowledge has been explored. Taking a journey through the history of the area, from prehistory into the present, one comes to discover Khouribga's influence on the current film scene. The local film festival, a reason for tourism and very popular with the community, has led to the hypothesis of the creation of a cinema complex intended as a new meeting point and cultural hub. Within a context strongly characterised by religion and tradition, the project also envisages the realization of a centre for prayer and Islamic education, which will act as a spiritual hub for the neighbourhood. The new usine de séchage will thus once again be an important engine for the development of the city.