MOROCCAN-NORDIC INITIATIVE ON ARCHITECTURE, SUSTAINABLE DESIGN LAUNCHED IN NORWAY

The alliance is a platform gathering prominent Nordic architects and designers around the mutual objective of developing innovative and balanced cooperation with Morocco in architecture, design and craftsmanship.

The choice of the name Qantara reflects the Alliance's mission to build lasting bridges between cultures, knowledge, and territories.

This momentum is driven by leading figures in the sphere of global architecture. Among the founding members of the Alliance are several influential personalities from the internationally renowned Nordic architectural and creative scene, including the Alliance’s initiator, Knut Hovland, a Norwegian architect who has been heavily involved in Morocco for more than 20 years.

It also includes luminaries such as Kjetil Thorsen, co-founder of the Snøhetta firm, which has been behind iconic projects in more than 30 countries; Reiulf Ramstad, known for his contextual and landscape-friendly approach; Gro Bonesmo, an architect committed to social architecture and collaborative urban projects, Kjersti Wikstrøm, a specialist in design innovation and gender integration in architecture, and Andreas Engesvik, a designer renowned for his contribution to Scandinavian modernity in furniture and objects.

The Alliance’s members intend to commit to a creative dialogue with Morocco, whose living heritage, regional diversity and constructive vernacular practices inspire a new reflection on global sustainability challenges.

The Alliance intends to base its actions on structured cooperation around four priorities: strengthening academic cooperation between Moroccan and Nordic institutions, promoting Morocco's architectural and artisanal heritage, promoting sustainable practices adapted to local contexts, and structuring a bilateral network for exchange and innovation.