Abstract

The Design Studio from 1989, “Rabat’s Urban Fringe” presented the urban evolution of Rabat, Morocco from 1987 to the early 1990s. The seminar covered Rabat’s urban development experience as a case study for Seminar attendees. The Seminar was hosted by the Harvard Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at Harvard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Professors Dr. Francois Vigier and Dr. Mona Serageldin led the sessions, research, and discussions.

Seminar materials focused on analyzing methods to accelerate the release of land for urban development in Rabat, and to discourage imbalanced city growth patterns. The Studio covered the application of standards that balance climate requirements, socio-cultural needs, and affordability, the creation of cost-efficient designs to support the economic life of projects, and the use of politically-feasible mechanisms to improve cost recovery and affordability. This topic was repeated for Urban Design Studio curricula from 1989 to 1993.

Documents include: A Seminar Syllabus and overview report; A Full report, “Rabat’s Urban Fringe,” with text by Dr. Mona Serageldin, supported by Seminar’s research team, and a final student report on urban planning in Rabat.

Excerpt

[Excerpt: Syllabus, Overview, Spring 1989, Mr. Vigier, Ms. Serageldin, pp. 1-2.]

“Urban Housing in Rabat, Morocco,” An Overview:

“Urban areas of Third World countries are growing rapidly as a result of a high rate of natural increase of the population and of migration from rural areas. In older areas, usually highly accessible to a broad range of job opportunities, continued population pressures is causing a densification of the housing stock which is deteriorating rapidly from lack of maintenance and subdivision into smaller units. Their infrastructure systems are utilized well beyond their design capacity, creating an increasingly unsanitary environment and threatening the structural soundness of buildings. More recently, governments have had to cope with a dynamic private sector whose activities have proved difficult to control.”

“At present [ca. 1989], the urban fringe is developing rapidly as squatter and informal settlements, ranging in quality from little more than shacks to sound housing for moderate income households striving to improve their standard of living, are built illegally. Currently accounting for sixty to eighty percent of housing starts, these fringe developments present an unprecedented challenge to planners and public officials concerned with preventing urban sprawl and maintaining control over the dynamics of growth in order to provide efficiently the necessary infrastructure and services.”

“Planning and Design Issues. High rates of urban growth necessitate forceful public interventions to direct the development of the urban fringe and improve the functional efficiency of older districts. Located in both older areas and on the urban fringe, large-scale projects are being undertaken to upgrade the infrastructure, extend the capacity of transportation systems, provide public amenities, and build mixed-use developments.”

“Yet, the prevalence of poverty has overtaxed the ability of governments to provide adequate public services or enforce even minimum sanitary standards of housing for the majority of urban households. Government housing policies have sought to reconcile three potentially conflicting objectives:

— “A commitment to improve the standard of life of a population largely unable to afford safe and sanitary housing on the open market.”

— “The desire to utilize planning and design standards reflecting international norms as the means to provide an acceptable level of amenities in both older areas and the developing urban fringe.”

— “The necessity to keep public subsidies at a manageable level in the face of the rising demand generated by the rapid growth of the urban population.”

Al Quds City Model House, for Casablanca, showing Front and Side Elevation, Sections, Ground, First and Second Floor, and Foundation building layouts. Original Source: Ministry of Housing and Land Development

*Graphic Map showing the Distribution of Urban Settlements, Morocco, showing data for large settlements in Casablanca, Rabat,* Fez, Marrakech, Meknes, Sale, Tangier, and Tetouan.

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Project Year:	1989
Project Type:	Urban Design Studio
Geographic Regions:	Rabat, Morocco
Reports:	1989 Design Studio: “Urban Housing in a Developing Country: Rabat Morocco” (Syllabus) 1989 Design Studio: “Rabat’s Urban Fringe,” Mona Serageldin (Final Report) 1989 Design Studio: “Urban Housing in a Developing Country, Rabat Morocco” (Student Report)
Authors:	^{Mona Serageldin; Samir Abdulac; Fathahah Debbi; Agnes Deboulet; Isabelle Ouetta; Jennifer Wayne; Hung-Song Oh; Randa Tukan;}
Sponsors:	^{The Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture at Harvard University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology}
Categories:	Design Studios; Education;

ID:	1989_01_001

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“The Unplanned Areas Upgrading and Employment Enhancing Programme in Egypt,” Needs Assessment and Activity Design Study for Informal Settlements in Cairo, Giza Governorates, Egypt, 2011-2016

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Design Studio 1989: “Rabat’s Urban Fringe,” Urbanization Analysis of Rabat, Morocco – Seminar Curriculum

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Project Year:	2012-2016
Project Type:	Risk Assessment and Local Development Strategy
Geographic Regions:	‘Izbit Khayrallah and El Zawya El Hamra, Cairo, Egypt / Ard El Lewa and Mit Okba, Giza, Egypt
Reports:	Needs Assessment and Activity Design Study: Deliverable 4 Final Report (July 2016) Presentation to Cairo Governor, “Investment Programme for Izbit Khayrallah and Al Zawya Al-Hamraa, Cairo: The Unplanned Areas Upgrading and Employment Generation Programme in Egypt,” (January 2016) — Full Document List: Expression of Interest, “Consultancy Services on the Redevelopment and Upgrade of Selected and Unsafe and Unplanned Areas in Cairo and Giza Governorates,” (October 2012) Deliverable 1: Final Methodology and Workplan: Deliverable 1 (June 2015) Deliverable 2: Deliverable 2 Vol 1, Needs Assessment and Situation Analysis Report: (November 2015) Deliverable 3, Volumes 1-5: Deliverable 3 Vol 1, Overview of the Activity Design Study (February 2016) Deliverable 3 Vol 2, Izbit Khayrallah Activity Design Study (February 2016) Deliverable 3 Vol 3, Al Zawya Al Hamraa Activity Design Study (February 2016) Deliverable 3 Vol 4, Ard Al-Lewa Activity Design Study (February 2016) Deliverable 3 Vol 5, Mît ‘Uqba Activity Design Study (February 2016) Deliverable 4: Needs Assessment and Activity Design Study: Deliverable 4 Final Report (July 2016) Needs Assessment and Activity Design Study: Deliverable 4 Final Report Appendix (July 2016)
Authors:	^{Tareq Abdalla; Wafik Arif; Mohamad Ashraf Al-Sayed Afifi; Abd el-Aziz el-Sayed Abd el-Aziz Mosa; Emad El-Din Nabil Al Bayoumi; John Driscoll; Emad Farid; Tarek Hamed; Maren Larsen; Enas El Mudaris; Mounir Neamatalla; Bruce Purdy; Shimaa Shaheen; Elda Solloso; Barbara Summers; Tarek Waly; Tariq Zulficar}
Sponsors:	^{Agence Française du Développement (AFD); Social Fund for Development (SFD)}
Categories:	Urban Finance

ID:	2012_10_004