The first edition of the International Urban Renewal Conference, held on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, in Rabat, marked an important milestone in the discussion on the sustainable transformation of Moroccan cities. The event was jointly initiated by LafargeHolcim Morocco, the National Agency for Urban Renewal and Rehabilitation of Buildings Threatening Ruin (ANRUR), and the National Council of the Order of Architects (CNOA).
Bringing together over 200 participants from Morocco and several countries in Africa, Europe, and Latin America, the conference placed urban renewal at the heart of public policies as a lever for social cohesion, territorial equity, and environmental performance.
A Collective and Cross-Sectoral Approach
Designed as a space for dialogue and collective construction, the meeting gathered public institutions, architects, urban planners, international experts, industry representatives, and civil society actors. Discussions, organized around four thematic panels and nine keynote speeches, addressed governance challenges, social engineering, citizen participation, constructive innovation, sustainable mobility, and the integration of digital technology into urban projects.
The opening sessions featured remarks from Adib Benbrahim, Secretary of State for Housing, Chakib Benabdellah, President of the CNOA, Khalid Samaka, General Director of LafargeHolcim Morocco, and Azhar Ktitou, General Director of ANRUR. All emphasized the need for shared responsibility and complementarity among institutional, professional, and economic actors.
Urban Quality, Innovation, and Social Impact
The National Council of the Order of Architects underscored the importance of placing architectural and urban quality at the center of renovation projects, in connection with uses, territorial identity, and residents’ expectations. The ANRUR highlighted the necessity of establishing a coherent intervention framework capable of addressing the complexity of urban situations and the urgency of tackling degraded neighborhoods and buildings threatening ruin through a comprehensive and sustainable approach.
LafargeHolcim Morocco shared its industrial expertise, emphasizing the role of innovative materials and sustainable construction solutions in the success of urban renovation projects and the environmental transition of the construction sector.
Towards a Moroccan Urban Renewal Model
The contributions of international experts from France, Belgium, Brazil, and Benin enriched the discussions with concrete case studies, illustrating innovative governance models and participatory methodologies suited to complex urban contexts.
At the conclusion of this first edition, a clear conclusion emerged: urban renewal constitutes a priority initiative for supporting the transformation of Moroccan cities, improving citizens’ quality of life, and addressing sustainability challenges. By bringing together all stakeholders, this conference laid the groundwork for a dynamic that is set to endure.
