Lecture on "Traditional Urbanism and Community-Based Spatial Informal Adaptation Practices in Morocco"
Thursday July 24, 2025
Thursday July 24, 2025
SIAS will host a hybrid lecture by Dr. Aqil Cheddadi (Visiting Lecturer, Faculty of Policy Management, Keio University).
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Japanese; however, the Q&A session will be conducted in Japanese, English, French, and Arabic.
17:30-17:35 Opening；Erina IWASAKI（Sophia University）
17:35-18:30 Lecture；Aqil Cheddadi
18:30-18:40 Commentator；Masatoshi Kisaichi (Sophia University)
18:40-18:50 Commentator；Naoko Fukami (Sophia University)
18:50–19:15 Discussion
Click here for registration form
Registration deadline July 22 (Tue), 2025. For those participating online, the URL for the event will be sent after the registration deadline.
In this lecture, we will trace the evolution of urban policies in Morocco from the colonial period (1912–1956) to the present day, examining the formation and social significance of both traditional medinas (old cities) and modern slums and informal settlements (douars). Colonial centralized urban planning undermined traditional urban structures and marginalized medinas within policy frameworks. In contrast, informal settlements have inherited a community-led urban formation process, developing unique urban spaces through sociocultural practices and spatial adaptation by local residents. Focusing on the case study of "Douar Doum" in the city of Rabat, this presentation draws on fieldwork, resident interviews, and historical documents to demonstrate that informal settlements are not merely urban problems, but rather a continuation of local urban cultures and traditional urban forms. Through these insights, the lecture will explore the potential for more inclusive and sustainable urban development grounded in decolonial perspectives.
