On Thursday, March 26, 2026, the library of the National School of Architecture (ENA) in Rabat was filled to capacity for a lecture by Japanese architect and Keio University professor Hiroto Kobayashi. The event focused on sharing lessons from post-earthquake reconstruction, drawing on Kobayashi's extensive fieldwork following disasters in Japan, Turkey, and Morocco.
Professor Kobayashi, known for his work with the NGO Voluntary Architects' Network (VAN), emphasized a community-participatory approach to rebuilding. He advocates for using local materials, such as timber and earth, and simple construction techniques that empower affected populations to rebuild their own homes and public spaces sustainably and resiliently.
The architect's methodology, developed through projects in areas like Tohoku after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami and more recently in areas of Morocco affected by the 2023 Al Haouz earthquake, stresses the importance of architectural solutions that are both culturally appropriate and technically sound for seismic zones.
The high attendance at the ENA lecture underscores the significant interest among Moroccan architecture students and professionals in integrating these proven, human-centered disaster response strategies into future practice and planning.