Building Resilience By Responding to Change: Case Study of Fes

Abstract

Intangible values of cultural heritage give life and spirit to the tangible ones within their existingenvironment and context. This aspect promotes cultural heritage as a living expression and certifies itsirreplaceable role to be a source of identity for communities and individuals to be protected and consignedto posterity. The aim of this study is to explore the existing state of heritage buildings in Medina (old city)of Fes in order to investigate the strategies developed to safeguard its unique cultural heritage. Restoringhistoric house buildings by giving them new functions is a trend of adaptation to the modern life consideredwithin adaptive re-use strategy. Most of the historic houses are abandoned and few are restored orconverted into restaurants, guest houses, exhibition galleries and the like, intended for foreign visitorslocated in the city as a symbol of an ancient civilization within adaptive re-use aspect.The aim of this study is to explore Fes, a city of Morocco, inscribed in UNESCO's world heritage list inorder to examine adaptive re-use strategy as an investment in tourism sector to enhance the economic,social and cultural resilience of communities. Expected result of this study is to discuss adaptive re-useapproach in cultural heritage preservation with its link to Sendai Framework for building resilience.