I – HISTORICAL SKYLINES | The Three Sisters
a- The Almohad Legacy
The XIIth century marked the zenith of the Almohad Empire, a vast dominion stretching across the Western Mediterranean.
Ibn Toumert, the ideological founder of the movement, was a charismatic religious reformer and scholar who laid the groundwork for the empire’s rise.
Though he passed away before his movement reached its height, his successor, Abd El Moumen, carried on his mission, unifying the Maghreb under Almohad rule and spearheading an era of monumental construction and cultural efflorescence.
His reign witnessed the rise of architectural marvels such as the Koutoubia minaret and the mosques of Taza and Tinmel. His successors, inspired by his vision, continued this legacy, transforming the landscape with grandiose structures.
b- Dreams of Grandeur
Abu Ya’qoub Al Mansour, a visionary in his own right, expanded on Abd El Moumen’s dreams, completing the Kasbah of Marrakech, and erecting the Almohad walls of Rabat.
His most ambitious project, however, was the Hassan Mosque in Rabat, which was intended to be the tallest mosque in the Muslim world, with a minaret standing at 95 meters in height.
Though the grand mosque remained unfinished due to his death in 1199, and suffered further destruction in the Lisbon earthquake of 1755 and subsequent years of neglect, the 44-meter-high Hassan Tower endures as a testament to his aspirations alongside its “sisters” —the Koutoubia in Marrakech and the Giralda in Seville.
Today, the Hassan Tower, surrounded by the remnants of the mosque’s pillars, stands as a powerful urban landmark and symbol of Rabat.
II –DESIGN DISSECTED | Architectural Analysis
a- Function and Layout
The Hassan Tower was designed as the minaret for the grand Hassan Mosque, with its primary purpose being to enable the muezzin to perform the adhan (call to prayer) from a towering vantage point.
Unlike traditional minarets, it features an interior ramp historically designed for access by horseback, highlighting its unique design and blending functionality with grandeur.
b- Proportions
The Hassan Tower exemplifies the distinctive proportions of Almohad minarets, with dimensions that are monumental even by the standards of its style.
Like other Almohad minarets, it is characterized by impressive verticality that commands the landscape and a high height-to-width ratio, although its intended ratio was somewhat lower than the typical 10:1 at about 6:1.
A key innovation in Almohad architecture is the use of a square base for minarets—an unusual design choice for the time, which traditionally saw circular or octagonal bases. In the case of the Hassan Tower, this square base is especially pronounced, measuring approximately 16 x 16 meters.
The minaret’s architectural composition is further defined by its façades, which are divided into sections, marked by cornices, that introduce subtle horizontal accents and establish a balanced visual rhythm.
c- Materials and Patterns
The Hassan Tower’s design is a masterful blend of elegance and strength in which stone plays a central role.
Each side, built with large stone blocks, is pierced with elegant openings that light up its interior. These openings are framed by multiple registers of arcades, crowned with classical interlacing patterns, and adorned with nascent arches resting on marble and stone colonnettes (small columns), each then topped with a carved capital.
This architectural style had a profound influence across the Muslim West, with its distinctive niches, lambrequin and poly-lobed arches, festooned designs, and layered decorative bands spreading rapidly across both shores of the Strait of Gibraltar.
d- Ktef & Drej Motif
The Ktef and Drej pattern is a distinctive decorative element featured in Moroccan architecture, particularly in woodwork, stucco, and stone carving, and is prominently displayed on the Hassan Tower.
This pattern combines the Ktef (“shoulder”), represented by a flowing curve, with the Drej (“step”), marked by a small right angle that follows the curve. Their intersections form a distinctive spearhead shape, a hallmark of Moroccan design.
e- Harmony in Difference
Unlike many uniform structures, each façade of the Hassan Tower showcases a unique architectural treatment, while maintaining the overall harmony of the project. This deliberate variation was not only the result of a rich blend of cultural influences but served to exhibit the range of architectural skills and diverse craftsmanship, within the kingdom, that defined the era.
Additionally, each side was crafted in response to the specific environmental factors in play, such as sunlight, prevailing winds, and temperature variations, influenced by both the local climate and tower’s orientation.
III- Project Proposal
a- Lighting Simulations
b- Drone Art Technology
Hassan Tower 2.0 represents a fusion of historical grandeur with cutting-edge technology, breathing new life into the iconic minaret.
Using fleets of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with state-of-the-art laser technology and LED lights, the project aims to create stunning, large-scale images and patterns in the sky visible both day and night.
These drones are fitted with advanced GPS systems and onboard data processing units, which allow them to navigate with precision, synchronizing their movements to produce intricate choreographies of light.
By incorporating this innovative drone art technology, this project transforms the Hassan Tower into a dynamic, interactive spectacle, and provides an immersive experience that enhances the monument’s historical significance, allowing visitors to engage with it in an entirely new way.
Conclusion: A vision Realized
The completion of the Hassan Minaret honors its heritage while fulfilling Al Mansour’s grand vision for Rabat.
This vision, already taking shape through the numerous tower projects under construction, seamlessly integrates the minaret into the modern and contemporary urban landscape.
The aim is to breathe new life into this historical icon through drone shows, creating an immersive, engaging, and ephemeral experience that bridges between, past and present, between, tradition and progress, and showcases the cultural and technological richness of Rabat.