Spatial Imaginaries “from the Ground”: Framing Fez’s Medina Contemporary Identity

Fez’s medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, has undergone significant transformations shaped by tourism development and urban rehabilitation efforts. This study reveals that the medina's contemporary identity is formed through competing yet complementary spatial imaginaries, driven by diverse local and international actors. These imaginaries, emerging from daily practices and initiatives, redefine the medina’s role as both a tourist destination and a lived urban environment. The research qualitatively analyzes these transformations, offering insights into the conditions that foster new spatial narratives in Morocco's historical medinas. Such findings contribute to broader debates on heritage preservation and local identity reinvention.

Guinand, S., & Kanellopoulou, D. (2023). Spatial Imaginaries “from the Ground”: Framing Fez’s Medina Contemporary Identity. Heritage & Society, 17(1), 70–97. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159032x.2023.2268319