“What art does — maybe what it does most completely — is tell us, make us feel that what we think we know, we don’t. There are whole worlds around us that we’ve never glimpsed.” Greil Marcus — Monday December 29th — —

The idea is to die young as late as possible. — Ashley Montagu — Monday December 29th — —

I love listening. It is one of the only spaces where you can be still and moved at the same time. — Nayyirah Waheed — Monday December 29th — —

The Tent

In conjunction with the ‘Contemporary Morocco’ exhibit at the Paris-based Institut du Monde Arabe, which was designed in 1987 by French architects Jean Nouvel and Architecture Studio, a tremendous traditional Moroccan tent has been constructed on the square in front of the building. The beautiful project by Tarik Oualalou and Linna Choi of the Paris-based architecture firm KILO, harmonizes contemporary design and technical innovation with traditional fabrication methods. Constructed from more than 650 m² of camel and goat wool woven by female cooperatives in the Saharan desert, the tent serves as an extraordinary urban landmark and a fitting symbol for the ‘Contemporary Morocco’ exhibit. In a highly elegant fashion the design of the tent pays homage to the nomadic traditions of southern Morocco. The result of both the particular design as the location is a wonderful clash between both modern and traditional aesthetic as materials, making the project a highly fascinating temporarily highlight when visiting Paris.

The tent harmonises contemporary design and technical innovation with traditional fabrication methods. The rhythm and scale of the tent’s silhouette renders a topographic dimension to the structure, which pays homage to the nomadic traditions of southern Morocco.

Within the tent, the installation features the work of master artisans from all throughout Morocco. The tent also houses a café, a boutique showcasing Moroccan handicrafts, and a performance space which will host various events throughout the duration of the exhibit.

KILO is an architecture firm based in Paris and Casablanca. Questioning the limited scope of the architect’s traditional role, the firm has developed its practice upon the theory that architectural strategies should be integrated into a project long ‘before’ and ‘after’ the conventional intervention of architects. Working closely with clients during site determination, programming, and the economic development of the project, the office engages in the definition of the architectural project from its very inception. KILO has worked on a vast range of programs and scales encompassing museums, luxury hotels and resorts, social housing, sports complexes, and master plans for both existing and new cities. The office has won numerous awards, including the 2012 Young Arab Architects competition. In 2014 the firm was named a finalist for the AFEX award for an outstanding project undertaken by a French architect outside France. KILO’s work has been published internationally and exhibited in both Paris and Casablanca.

Photography by Luc Boegly.

The installation will remain on view through January 25, 2015, at the Institut du Monde Arabe which is located on 1 Rue des Fossés Saint-Bernard, Paris. 

See for more information here.