Heritage in between “patrimonialisation” and sustainability: The case of the moroccan medina
Mouna Sedreddine : Architect and PHD student at the National School of Architecture in Rabat
Siham El Rharbi : Architect and PHD student at the National School of Architecture in Rabat
Abstract:
The value of cultural heritage is crucial for sustaining the community memory and the echoes of its landscape. However, with this continuous effort to preserve this heritage, its current use either for preservationist or development ends is problematic. The inherent meaning of heritage as an empirical human practice has been subjugated and reduced to a set of static relics, sacralized and totally unaltered.
This sacralisation has led us to the phenomenon of “patrimonialisation” that derives from the French term “patrimoine”.
Therefore, this paper argues that this phenomenon has hindered the true perception of heritage as a dynamic element in the making and evolution of contemporary cities. The medina, as a case study, has been subdued by such categorization.
Accordingly, this categorization predetermines a proviso of actions (preservation, re-habilitation, restoration, renewal and so forth). This paper would revisit how the medina has been patrimonialised and henceforth lost its synergy in reactivating the memory of the place.
Based on the fact that architectural heritage is far from being a passive deposit of historical memory, this paper would demonstrate how medina can be explored to orient the sustainable urbanization in contemporary Moroccan cites.
Keywords:Patrimonialisation; sustainability; conservation; medina; Morocco.