Rabat – Students, artists, architects, and guests gathered at the Private University of Fez (UPF) this week for the “Fez Design Days” closing ceremony, celebrating creativity, architecture, and artistic expression through exhibitions, performances, and award presentations.
The event brought together students from different disciplines to present artistic and architectural projects focused on Moroccan identity, culture, and modern design. Throughout the afternoon, visitors toured several exhibitions showcasing paintings, visual installations, design concepts, and architecture-related works created by students.
The program began visits to the exhibitions displayed across the venue. Organizers then officially opened the award ceremony with welcome remarks and presentations introducing the different competition categories and featured projects.
Several student projects were recognized during the ceremony. Awards were given for works exploring themes such as light and shadow, memory and reinterpretation, collage, engraving, and cultural roots in pictorial techniques. The event also highlighted artistic concepts connected to design and architecture, with some selected artworks purchased by the university.
The exhibitions reflected a mix of traditional Moroccan inspiration and modern artistic approaches. Many projects focused on vernacular architecture, cultural preservation, and adapting Moroccan aesthetics to contemporary urban and tourism development.
Among the guests attending the event was Patrick Simon, who has lived in Morocco for 50 years and was invited by UPF to meet architecture students and participate in discussions throughout the week.
Speaking to Morocco World News (MWN), he explained that he was invited to Fez “for a meeting with young architecture students, but also because of everything this private university represents through its great success.”
Simon, who lives in Tata, commended the exchanges he had with students during the week, especially discussions related to territorial development, vernacular architecture, and tourism development.
“We established an incredible connection with the young people in their third, fourth, and fifth years,” he said.
According to Simon, the students demonstrated a strong interest in linking architecture and design with Morocco’s future development.
“There is a real desire to adapt architecture, design, and aesthetics to modern Morocco … the Morocco of tomorrow,” he said.
Simon added that the atmosphere during the event left him optimistic, stressing: “Personally, I found the atmosphere very promising for Morocco.” The ceremony also included a theatrical performance titled “El Harraz,” staged by students from ISMAB. The production featured scenography designed and created by the students under the supervision of faculty members and concluded the artistic portion of the evening before a festive closing celebration.
