Aéroport Marrakech Ménara
Marrakech, Morocco
Located approximately 6 km southwest the Marrakech Medina, the Marrakech-Menara airport is among the busiest airports in the country. In general, it receives more than half as many passengers as the country's largest airport, Casablanca-Mohammed V, and more than double the number of passengers who pass through the next closest rival in Agadir.1  Though an airport has existed on this location since before World War II, it's capacity has considerably increased and services modernized since 2005.  The renovation of Terminal 1 completed in June 2008, is fueled partly by solar energy. Terminal 2 was opened in 2005. Terminal 3 was opened in 2017. 

Designed to be eco-friendly, the airport generates most of its own electricity through solar panels.  It's double-skinned facade is designed to illuminate the interior and to assist in temperature control in this part of Morocco where temperatures can vary significantly in the course of a day.  All artificial lighting is provided by LED. Rainwater is collected and used to water both external and internal green spaces, and plants chosen for these gardens are generally well adapted to minimal rainfall.  "Airport Carbon Accreditation" of the International Council of Airports. The airport has also achieved Level 1 certification from the Airport Carbon Accreditation Program, one of only 7 airports in Africa to have done so. 

The airport is remarkable for its modern, innovative use of technology to exploit and control natural light, while simultaneously evoking traditional design motifs.  In 2018 Business Insider include the airport on a list of the most beautiful airports in the world.2

-Michael A. Toler, Interim Program Head
Aga Khan Documentation Center at MIT
December 3, 2018

NOTES: 
Communications Et Relations Publiques. Aéroports Du Maroc : Trafic Aérien Du Mois D'Octobre 2018. Report no. 18/2018. November 19, 2018. Accessed November 27, 2018. http://www.onda.ma/Je-suis-Professionnel/Compagnies/Statistiques.
2 Matousek, Mark. “The 14 Most Beautiful Airports In The World”. Business Insider. June 9, 2018. https://www.businessinsider.com/most-beautiful-airports-in-the-world-2018-1.
Location
Menara, Marrakech, Morocco
Images & Videos
Associated Names
Events
2006-2008, T1 renovation
2005, T2 construction completed
Dimensions
57,000 m2
Variant Names
مطار مراكش المنارة الدولي
Marrakesh Menara Airport
Translated
Building Usages
transportation
Materials/Techniques