IL SITO ARCHEOLOGICO–MONUMENTALEDI CHELLAH, RABAT,TRA

STORIA E NATURA

Alice Cavallari , Matteo Gatti , Marica Giberti , Hanie Hejira , Benedetta Roccon1 2 3 4 5

1 Architetto,ReggioEmilia,alice_cavallari@virgilio.it

2 Architetto,LaSpezia, matteogatti44@gmail.com

3 Architetto,Modena, marica.giberti@gmail.com

4 Architetto,Rabat, hani.hh@gmail.com

5 Architetto,Parma,benedetta.roccon@libero.it

ABSTRACT

Chellah is an archaeological and monumental site in Rabat, where the stratification of buildings from

different eras, the presence of protected tree species, as well asthe worship of the marabouts make it a

charming place. The Ministry of Cultural Heritage of Morocco has classified it as a monument and, more

recently,asaUNESCO World Heritage site. The walls inrawearth (terra cruda)date back tomedieval times,

and enclosethe ruins of an ancient Roman town and a Merinidnecropolis. The project proposal integrates the

analysis, study and conservation of the building, togetherwith the planning of new pathsfor visitors and

toenhance the monument and the surroundinglandscape, the BouRegreg valley. Apart

fromplanningtheconsolidationof the walls, there’s a projecttobuild a wooden walkway, functional to walk

alongtheexistingparapet.

The project also includes the construction of internalpaths to enjoy the site in all its parts, as well as to link

the area of the archaeological excavations with the vegetation, through a garden.The realization of the

gardens is reminiscent of a typical process of slowly unveiling an archeological sitethat aims at preserving

the matter. Since the path is situated high up, the visitor benefits from a better point of view and, much like a

walk in amuseum, the vegetation, the ruins of the ancient Roman forum, the triumphal arch, the springs and

theCapitolarealltheretobeadmired.

Parolechiave/Key-words: earthenconstruction,archeologicalgarden,project,restoration