Eyes in Architecture - in Marocco - Zaha Hadid and the Rabat Grand Theatre

Zaha Hadid Architects and the Bouregreg Valley Development Agency Announce the Rabat Grand Theatre

Zaha Hadid and Lemghari Essakl, Managing Director of l’Agence pour l’Aménagement de la Vallée du Bouregreg (The Bouregreg Valley Development Agency) signed an agreement for the architectural design of the Rabat Grand Theatre at a ceremony held in Rabat on November 5. During the event, Mr. Essakl also signed the project financing agreement with Mr. Salaheddine Mezouar, Moroccan Minister of Economy & Finance, Mr. Taieb Cherkaoui, Minister of the Interior, and Mr. Abdelouahed Kabbaj, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Hassan II Fund for Economic & Social Development.

With a dedicated land area of 47 000 sqm and a gross floor area of 27 000 sqm, the Rabat Grand Theatre is a cultural venue of the highest standards. It will include a 2,050-seat theatre, a smaller 520-seat theatre, creative studios and a fully-equipped outdoor amphitheatre with a capacity of up to 7,000 people. The cost of the project is estimated at 1.35 Billion Moroccan Dirham (£100 Million).

The Grand Theatre will be located in the Bouregreg Valley, a 6,000 ha area in the heart of the Moroccan capital, home to one of the largest developments in the country. By the end of 2014, the valley will host a wide range of residential, commercial, leisure and hospitality complexes, turning Rabat into one of the most attractive destinations of the Mediterranean area. With its dynamic, innovative design and cutting-edge infrastructure, the Rabat Grand Theatre will be a major landmark in the region.

In his statement to the press, Mr. Essakl said, “The Grand Theatre is part of a national programme of cultural development initiated by His Majesty King Mohammed VI. The construction of the Grand Theatre will allow Rabat to showcase its rich cultural heritage as one the world’s greatest cultural centres.”

“I am delighted to be building the Grand Theatre in Rabat”, said Zaha Hadid. “Morocco’s unique musical traditions and rich cultural history in the performing arts are renowned throughout the world. I am honoured to be part of the cultural development of the nation’s capital.”

The Bouregreg Valley Development Agency is a public company in charge of the development and project management of the Bouregreg riverbanks. The Agency also supervises large-scale infrastructure projects such as the Rabat-Salé Tramway.