The Importance of Deliberate DesignApril 19—Our first morning in Casablanca began with two robust and enlightening lectures, both focused on the ways that deliberate design of spaces and systems help make a country go round. On this morning, we learned from experts on the subjects of architecture and inclusive (special) education. While these two topics at first seemed to me an odd pairing, a step back made me realize the crystal clear connection between the two subjects: The importance of deliberate design. After gazing out the window at the panoramic view of the city, we enjoyed the first session on design, a beautiful and educational introduction to Moroccan architecture. While many of us have already expressed our awe for the design features of the buildings we've visited and seen, Ms. Iman Hmoudou's presentation kept us all on the edge of our seats. Ms. Hmoudou, a professor at the National School of Architecture (ENS), took the floor and dazzled us all. Her architecture session built (no pun intended) on the concepts and topics we've been hearing about. Ms. Hmoudou helped us understand Moroccan architecture features and regional variability, but, more importantly, the ways that buildings and their deliberate design can help us understand the rich story of Moroccan people and their culture. My Pio World Lit students are already aware of the extraordinary architects in the world who are creating spaces using “passive” design. Earlier this year, we explored this news story about the use of passive design in the Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School, located in Rajasthan, India. We looked at how it was built using local materials and with deliberate design elements that will keep the school cool without air conditioning. Brilliant, we all thought. What most of us did not fully realize is that the design features present in this school are not unique or particularly groundbreaking, historically speaking. Ms. Hmoudou's presentation shared that this has been common practice in Morocco for many years, and architects have been using passive design for centuries. Did you know that some buildings, such as the old medina in Fès (and other cities) were designed with cooling in mind . . . way back in 789? With small windows, narrow alleys, and courtyards open to the sky, the medina’s design allowed for climate considerations while also taking into account the cultural values of its inhabitants. It's about equity from the outside and privacy on the inside, we learned. Wow. The beginning of her presentation framed some of the basics of urban design and city planning, which (at least for some of us), was an essential backstory to fully understand how cities end up the way they do. She explained that the medina (Arabic for city) is a medieval kind of urbanism. She told us, "the medina looks like a maze, but has a logic in urban design that has to do with topography, religion, climate data, and politics." The medina designers used local materials, earthy colors, and planned with climate data in mind. The stone, for example, and the towers with small openings, helped with ventilation while keeping the spaces cool. Of course we had observed many of these design elements on our day trip to Fès the previous day, but didn't quite realize the why of some of the architecture. She also talked a lot about gates - we have traveled through several both on foot and by bus in our time here so far. The gates, we learned, have different functions. Some are for diplomats, for instance. Others have historically been for different groups of people. An example: some gates were traditionally used by the Muslim population while others were used by the Jewish population. She emphasized that there has been very good cooperation between Jewish and Muslims neighbors, and that the gates have helped maintain space and been part of a peaceful cooperation in Moroccan urban spaces for many years. Next, we transitioned into a presentation on a different kind of design - one that is less visible but as educators we know so very important: Inclusive (special) education design. Dr. Hajar Ouknider is a researcher on disability and offered us some incredible insights on the ways that the Moroccan education system is grappling with how to include all students and help them learn. There were so many familiar themes in her presentation and we learned that government transitions here in Morocco have led to many "pendulum swings" in the inclusive educational landscape and policy design. Sound familiar, US colleagues? She talked about access to education, the challenges of differentiation, and so much more. The importance of her research and the ways that she hopes to influence and change the ways that special education students was inspirational. We will surely continue following how her work can change policy and ultimately students' and families lives.
Overall, it was an extraordinary morning of thinking about how we design the spaces we live in and the systems in which we educate our children. As I was finishing up this post, I ended up going down the internet rabbit hole to find a quote that summarizes the importance of thoughtful design. For now, this architect Frank Lloyd Wright's quote captures what I believe both Ms. Iman Hmoudou and Dr. Hajar Ouknider seek to study and share in their work: "Architecture is the triumph of human imagination over materials, methods, and men, to put man into possession of his own earth."
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AuthorAmy Frontier teaches at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Archives
September 2024
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