The use of timber to enhance seismic performance in vernacular architecture of Morocco: The case of the Haouz Valley
Assia LAMZAH, Ismail MAKHAD
Abstract. Vernacular Architecture is the product of the geographical, social, economic, and cultural contexts. It is mostly presented as eco-friendly, functional, and community-driven. Additionally, it is constructed with empirical knowledge accumulated by building masters using local resources, which may bear important lessons. Morocco has a rich vernacular architecture that witnesses its history and local identity. It testifies of a traditional design wisdom, great capacity of adaptability to the context, and a great genius and know-how that developed over centuries in different regions and territories of the country. One of the interesting aspects of these traditional construction methods and design wisdom is the use of local materials to enhance the seismic performance of the buildings. More precisely, timber was used in earthen and stone architecture to reinforce the structure and enhance its seismic performance. After the Haouz earthquake, in September 2023, such a technique was the reason for the preservation of several constructions. The present paper focuses on the use of timber in traditional construction techniques of the valley, as an old and effective technique to enhance the seismic performance of the structure. More precisely, it presents and analyses specific techniques, mainly in the walls, both is corners and, in the openings, (doors and windows where timber elements are fixed to the masonry walls using mechanical point-to-point connections). The objective is to not only present these techniques as construction and architectural vernacular heritage, but also to analyze the possibility to (re) using them in the ongoing reconstruction projects in a more sustainable approach.
Keywords
Vernacular, Architecture, Seismic Performance, Earth, Timber, Haouz Valley, Morocco
Published online 1/10/2026, 6 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Assia LAMZAH, Ismail MAKHAD, The use of timber to enhance seismic performance in vernacular architecture of Morocco: The case of the Haouz Valley, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 58, pp 86-91, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644903933-12
The article was published as article 12 of the book Emerging Research in Materials for Environment, and Civil Infrastructure
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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