Demographic dynamics and their impact on the built framework, the case of the old city of Fez

Abstract

The old city of Fez stands as a living heritage that bears witness to the country’s civilization and history. It was characterized by a coherent urban design and architecture strongly marked by Islamic aesthetics. However, this historical framework experienced a major decline during the colonial period, due to the construction of a modern city that competed with the old medina, thereby creating a clear spatial duality.

Like other historic cities, Fez is today facing profound and multifaceted imbalances, mainly related to the decline of its vital functions and the loss of equilibrium among its fundamental economic, social, and environmental components. The city also suffers from numerous problems linked to its urban structure, economic fabric, and built environment. The most prominent consequences are the deterioration of its historic core and the destruction of its cultural and civilizational heritage, a process further exacerbated by the combined impact of natural and human factors.