|
The
principal objective of Prospective Study PS3 is to formulate
a rehabilitation strategy for the monuments selected and to implement
this strategy in other areas of the region where conservation and socio-economic
improvements are required. This is being done through the study of the
geological building materials used to construct ancient monuments in Marrakesh
and represents a unique opportunity to promote scientific co-operation
and exchange of expertise on conservation problems between the different
participants.
•
Choice of monuments
•
After
visiting several historic buildings in the old town of Marrakesh, the
two monuments selected were the Agnaou
Gate and the Al Badii Palace.
The
Agnaou Gate, one of the oldest and most important gates in the
medieval Kasbah wall of Marrakesh. It belongs to the Almohade period (12th
century) and stands in front of the Great Mosque of the Kasbah.
On a first inspection, the Agnaou Gate seemed to be made of rather thick
slabs of dark finely laminated slate/shale, which appears to be parallel
to the surface in the deteriorated parts. The upper and lower part of
the gate (up to about 2.40 m) appeared to have already been already restored,
with small brick-sized and carved blocks of greenish stone in slight contrast
to the older dark grey stone.
The most evident deterioration phenomena so far observed were flaking,
exfoliation, powdering, cracking and loss of patina.
As for the Al Badii Palace a certain number of samples were taken for
analysis, such as already detached stone fragments, in order to establish
the origin and nature of the stone, micromorphology of deterioration and
mechanisms of deterioration.
The
second monument selected was Al Badii Palace is of great importance
in the history of Marrakesh. The building was started by the Saadian King
Ahmed el Mansour in 1578 and was probably completed around 1603, the year
of his death.
The choice of this palace as part of the prospective study was made both
for its historical value and for the nature of its building materials.
The existing materials of the Al Badii Palace, which is now a ruin, are
ceramics (bricks, glazed tiles), mortars, and plaster no evident presence
of local stone has been observed here.
These materials, the building technology and some evident deterioration
phenomena make this palace a suitable site for investigation. Furthermore,
this monument is a very representative example of Moroccan architecture.
The palace structure, of which only the perimeter walls and some internal
structure remain today, extends over a very large area, but this study
has been limited to the western "audience pavilion" (15x16 meters).
Following a preliminary survey of the structure, diagnostic research and
a sampling plan for laboratory analysis was programmed in order to study
in detail the wall structure, building technology, the materials used
and their origin, nature and decay mechanisms.
• Schedule of investigations and work planned •
The
following phases were considered necessary to permit satisfactory investigation
of the monuments:
- Collection of
historical data and bibliography;
- Collection of
recent conservation treatment data;
- Compilation of
graphic and photographic documentation;
- Sampling;
- Laboratory analyses;
- On-site monitoring;
- Data evaluation
and assessment;
- Pilot - treatment
in laboratory and in situ;
- Conservation-restoration
proposal;
- Site management
plan.
The
final aim of this Prospective Study is to be able to apply this experience
to others areas in the region as part of a rehabilitation strategy.
The intention is to establish common systems and procedures that make
it possible to monitor the state of conservation of the archaeological
and architectural heritage and programme works of restoration and conservation
to safeguard the cultural heritage of Morocco.
|
