CEDoc - UM6P - SuRE In Lab. Sustainable Real Estate: passive architecture (14112)

Mohammed VI Polytechnic University is an institution dedicated to research and innovation in Africa and aims to position itself among world-renowned universities in its fields The University is engaged in economic and human development and puts research and innovation at the forefront of African development. A mechanism that enables it to consolidate Morocco's frontline position in these fields, in a unique partnership-based approach and boosting skills training relevant for the future of Africa. Located in the municipality of Benguerir, in the very heart of the Green City, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University aspires to leave its mark nationally, continentally, and globally.

The Sustainable Real Estate Innovation Lab (SuRE In Lab) at University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) is a forward-looking research and innovation platform dedicated to sustainable urban planning, real estate development, and the socio-economic transformation of territories in Morocco and Africa. The lab operates across UM6P's campuses in Benguerir and Rabat, with a mission to generate cutting-edge research, strategic partnerships, and capacity-building initiatives, SuRE In Lab seeks to shape the next generation of professionals and solutions for a sustainable built environment research-driven impact and support strategic education, innovation, and partnerships in Morocco and Africa.

Thesis Subject

The Sustainable Real Estate Innovation Lab (SuRE In Lab) invites applications for a PhD position focused on vernacular passive architecture as a strategy for climate adaptation in the MENA and potentially Sub-Saharan regions.

As climate change increasingly affects the MENA region—through heat waves, droughts, and environmental degradation—there is an urgent need to re-engage with ancestral architectural knowledge that has enabled communities to survive and thrive in extreme conditions for centuries. This research project aims to document, analyze, and reframe traditional passive design practices, construction techniques, and material use in vernacular architecture as a catalogue of local climate resilience strategies.

The ultimate goal is to reintroduce these time-tested approaches to modern architectural and real estate development, offering designers and practitioners sustainable, culturally relevant, and low-impact alternatives in the face of the climate crisis.

Thesis working title: "Ancestral Architecture and Climate Adaptation: Mapping Passive Design Practices Across Arid Regions in the Global Sout".

• Conduct extensive fieldwork across selected regions in MENA and Sub-Saharan Africa

• Compile, document, and analyze vernacular architectural solutions focused on passive design and local materials

• Develop a structured catalogue of architectural typologies, materials, and techniques

• Investigate the socio-cultural, climatic, and construction contexts of each case

• Engage with local communities, builders, and traditional knowledge holders

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary researchers and contribute to the SuRE In Lab's wider projects

• Publish academic outputs and participate in conferences and knowledge-sharing platforms

• Support integration of findings into teaching and executive education modules

• Master's degree in Architecture, Urban Studies, Building Science, Environmental Design, or a related field

• Strong interest in climate adaptation, vernacular architecture, and sustainable building practices

• Experience in architectural field research, documentation, or ethnographic methods is an asset

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English (French or Arabic is a strong asset)

• Ability to travel and conduct fieldwork in diverse cultural and climatic settings

• Commitment to interdisciplinary research and impact-driven inquiry

University Mohammed VI Polytechnic (UM6P) - SuRE In Lab