Agadir seen by the architect M. Bouaida
Born in 1950, in the city of Guelmim, Mohamed Salem Bouaida studied at the Saint Luca architecture school in Bruxelles.
After his graduation in 1976, he came back to Agadir where he worked as an architect for the city planning department. He then met Patrice Le Tixerantand in 1981 he opened his office with him. He has been working essentially for the government and other private institutions such as: Agadir French high school…
What are the functionalist buildings in Agadir?
Mohamed Salem Bouaida: The functionalist architectural style is actually not as developped in Agadir as the brutalist one. Functionalist buildings in Agadir are also brutalist here. This style is represented by the A building in front of the post-office.
Who are the brutalists?
Mohamed Salem Bouaida: First of all, brutalism is an architectural style that was created in the 60’s-70. The term brutalist come from the French word « béton brut » (raw concrete).
The entire projects that were made in Agadir by the administration of the high Commissioner after the 60’s were mainly influenced by this brutalist movement that was fashionable at that time.
There are many buildings that are a reminder of this architectural style such as the firefighters tower, the post-office or also the Souss El Halima Middle School.
Many architects for exampleAzagury, Desmazzieres, Rioux, Amzallag, Tastemainand Faroui were able to recreate the city of Agadir after the earthquake and thus improve the architectural style of the city.
What is the difference between both styles?
Mohamed Salem Bouaida: The form of functionalist buildings must reflect their use. Although those two styles are not necessarily different since we can have an architecture that is both brutalist and functionalist, that is the case of some buildings in Agadir eg the firefighters tower.
What is your opinion about the architectural style of Agadir given after the earchquake of 1960?
Mohamed Salem Bouaida: The architecture in the 1960’s-70 was under the control of the High Commissionership of the rebuilding of Agadir and made by different professional building companies. This has encouraged modern brutalism.
Following the dissolution of the High Commissionership in the mid-70’s, the city planning was assigned to the local authorities. This has had huge consequences on the architecture: a certain urban incoherence or the disfigurement of the High Commissionerships’ work.
What is your favorite building in Agadir?
Mohamed Salem Bouaida: In my opinion, one of the buildings reflecting the most the urban revolution is indeed the post office. As it is one of the best ambassadors of the brutalist style and also one of the oldest architectural heritage of the city.
