Reclaiming Interior Spaces : an Anti-crisis of Space and Identity in Post-colonial Morocco
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2023
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AI-GENERATED ABSTRACT: Abstract: The legacy of colonialism has had a profound impact on the cultural identity and physical landscape of North-African countries, including Morocco, leading to a crisis of identity as traditional heritage clashes with modern influences. This crisis is evident in the design of interior spaces, often reflecting the values of the colonizers rather than the local culture. Balancing traditional and modern influences is challenging, as an over-reliance on tradition or globalization may lead to a loss of cultural specificity. This thesis aims to explore how a modern vision of the vernacular can strike a balance between these influences, creating culturally relevant and meaningful interiors. The primary objective of this thesis is to demonstrate that a middle ground between modernism and the vernacular can be achieved by consolidating local techniques, materials, and design elements with modern realities, sustaining cultural identity and the identity of place. It seeks to answer the question of how modern design can be combined with vernacular traditions to preserve the identity of places. Using a qualitative approach, the thesis will investigate case studies, local typologies, and spatial techniques to understand the cultural and emotional significance of vernacular design elements and their adaptability to contemporary contexts. The exploration will analyze the crisis of identity and space, delve into the meanings associated with spatial elements, and examine how case studies have incorporated vernacular elements in modern projects. The culmination of the research will be a practical interior design project that integrates the insights gained, showcasing the potential for a contemporary vernacular design that moves beyond traditional stereotypes. Keywords: Colonialism, cultural identity, vernacular, modernism, interior spaces, crisis of identity, contemporary vernacular design, local techniques, cultural specificity, spatial elements, case studies, sustainability, Moroccan interiors