The city of Marrakech is a renowned tourist destination and captivates the imaginations of countless visitors. Famous for its traditional and imperial heritage treasures spanning various dynasties, Marrakech also boasts an under-studied and often overlooked rich legacy of modernist architecture.
This film is a collaboration between the DPU, International University of Rabat, and MAMMA (Mémoire des architectes modernes marocains).
Produced by DPU’s Alexander Macfarlane, 'Marrakech's Modernism Revisited' aims to democratize access to the city's modernist and colonial cultural heritage, and to transform public policy towards modernist built environment in the city.
The work of the project involved the creation of a repository accessible to all, irrespective of their background or interests, ensuring that modernist architectural heritage is preserved and becomes a shared experience for a diverse audience. Importantly, this project is not merely an archival effort but a policy-oriented project, as it seeks to demonstrate the benefits of embracing digital tools in transforming public policy towards the built environment in Marrakech, serving as a model for future initiatives within Morocco and beyond.
Positioning the untold Marrakech's modernist architecture on a global stage, the project hopes to contribute to the city's recognition as a world modernist heritage site. This endeavour aligns with international efforts to safeguard and promote architectural diversity.