Set against the ochre skyline of Marrakesh’s desert edge, The Solstice Research Pavilion is an international outpost of the Paris-based IECE — a think tank dedicated to climate and energy research in arid zones. Tasked with creating a campus that would foster interdisciplinary dialogue while embodying the values of environmental stewardship, the design reinterprets traditional Moroccan courtyard typologies for a contemporary, collaborative academic environment.

With earth-toned, rammed earth walls and slender steel trellises, the Pavilion doesn’t impose on its surroundings but seems to rise from the desert itself. The design balances seclusion and connection: introverted research pods wrap around cool internal courtyards, while open-air walkways and shaded pavilions encourage spontaneous exchange.

The Pavilion resists the sterile neutrality of modern institutional design in favor of a textured, responsive architecture that is grounded in local materiality, passive performance, and a deep sensitivity to climate and craft.