ASILAH CITY Historical town from the Islamic world. MUNA FAHED ABOU FAYAD 201310898 DALAL A.M ALHOURANI 201210747 ASALA ABDULHADI 201211436
INDEX • Introduction • Location • Asilah limits • Urban growth • The Ramparts and the protection zones • Streets network • Building pathology in Asilah medina • Different architecture styles in Asilah medina • Historic Monuments and Buildings Rehabilitation • Before and after restoration • GATES (BABS) • Mosqus (jamaa) • Madrasas (zaouia) • International arts festival in Asilah • Conclusion • References
INTRODUCTION : •Asilah city contains very old Fortified medina back to 1500 B.C. and the importance of
this Asilah medina is reflected through several factors: a little geographical area of 9 hectares, is characterized by its remarkable centrality, its homogeneous aspect and its originality compared to others medinas. Its principal urban components are: firstly, the fortifications of Islamic and Portuguese origin (walls, bastions and doors). secondly, the districts, places, streets and residential and religious buildings with a historical and architectural interest. Spanish and Portuguese influence is noticeable in some of the house's facades because the Phoenicians used it as a base for trade, They conquered the city in 1471, but John III later decided to abandon it because of an economic crisis in 1549. •In 1692, the town was taken by the Moroccans under the leadership of Moulay Ismail. Asilah served then as a base for pirates in the 19th and 20th centuries, and in 1829, the Austrians punitively bombarded the city due to Moroccan piracy. From 1912-1956, it was part of Spanish Morocco. A major plan to restore the town was undertaken in 1978.
LOCATION: Asilah, South Tangier ,Tangier- Tetouan Region, Morocco. Asilah city Size
: 235 ha
• Asilah is located 42 km southeast of the
town of Tangier on the Atlantic coast. The town is completely surrounded by Portuguese defensive walls that were erected in the 15th century. There are extensive beaches and a natural harbor on the northwest side of the town. Farmlands surround the town and there are no factories in the immediate area. To the north of Asilah lie beach resorts and to the southeast lie squatter settlements called mixikIts • population is of approximately 30 000 inhabitants that live fundamentally of fishing, agriculture and tourism which is rapidly becoming an important source of income.
Asilah medina Size
: 9 ha
ASILAH Surroundings
Portuguese defensive walls
natural harbor on the northwest side of the town
Farmlands surround the town
CLIMATE • The northern Atlantic
coastal area falls into the Mediterranean climate zone bringing mild wet winters and dry warm summers.
ASILAH LIMITS • The medina of Asilah
counts 5 districts. Its principal streets are those which connect gates/doors to gates/doors. The other streets are organized according to the north-eastern and south-western orientation, while crossing the medina in its length and its width and serve the residential districts and the commercial streets.
 OLD ASILAH LIMITS
_ Tour Routes _ Religious Routes
_Tracks Routes
 OLD ASILAH LIMITS
URBAN GROWTH Asilah is an ancient coastal town founded in Phoenician times. Its defensive walls were built in the medieval period when it was a Portuguese trading post. Today it is a harbour, a market, a center for cultural events and a summer resort. 1. most representative buildings and most of the constructions inside the medina area, ran the risk of collapse during the seventies, The streets were not paved. 2. The rehabilitation project of Asilah by Al-Mouhit Cultural Association started in 1978. Historical sites such as the Portuguese fortifications, the Al-Kamra Tower and the Raissouni Palace, have all been restored and several public spaces have been re-arranged for commercial activities. The town was gradually being provided with basic infrastructures: the streets were paved, the old houses renovated; always following their craft patterns. The Portuguese fortifications: the Sqala and the Al-Kamra Tower
The fortification (walls and bastions)
The Raissouni Palace
The Ramparts and the protection zones • The ramparts of Asilah were
built by the Portuguese in the late 15th and early 16th century, designed by the military architect Botacca. The incredible level of preservation is partly the result of modern restoration. • Private houses have at many points been built right up the walls, making access difficult at points. Two prongs point out to the ocean, but only the southern one is open to the public.
Streets network
Roadway Plaza Narrow streets s Cul-de-sac
• Its Kasba, rectangular citadel dating from the
Portuguese period, was formerly a fortified town surrounded of walls which sheltered the residences of the governor and the chief of the Portuguese army. Currently, it is an open space little built containing some dwellings, cultural equipment: the Hassan II International Meeting Centre and the Large Mosque.
Streetscapes in the medina of Asilah
Building pathology in Asilah medina
GOOD CONDITION MEDIUM CONDITION BAD CONDITION RUIN UNDER RENOVATION OR CONSTRUCTION IMPTY AREA
•
According to the visual examinations in building pathology of 2006, 83% of the built environment units are between good and average state (Purple and yellow colors), 12% are deteriorated (red color), 1% of buildings are threatening ruin or is at risk of collapse and 4% are destroyed (black color).
Different architecture styles in Asilah medina The historical area contains different styles of architecture including traditional, neotraditional, modern and renovated buildings. • The architecture house in Asilah medina consists of courtyard houses arranged in a compact and organic urban fabric with narrow streets. Spanish influence is noticeable in some of the house's facades. •
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Built up area
The housing typology
OPEN HOUSE TO COURT OPEN HOUSE PATIO HOUSING TO FLOOR NOT LIVING SPACE
• Historic Monuments and Buildings Rehabilitation
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During the two last decades, the medina of Asilah profited from a series of cultural initiatives and from a marked movement of rehabilitation and restoration by AlMouhit Cultural Association, 1978, which made it possible to conserve some of its historical and architectural heritage and to generate positive impact and repercussions on the very whole city and on the tourism activity development. View of town from water’s edge
Street view
Aerial view
Asilah was designated a National Monument and, in 1989, received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture. • The project was noted for its sensitivity in treating buildings as living fabrics and in creating a partnership between local and outside skill. • The idea of restoration has also been expanded to include sustainable urban conservation efforts in the Asilah rehabilitation project.
• Improvement of the Medina Environment and Tourism Development : •Sanitation project: improving the continuity of essential services, restoring the quality of bathing waters and ensuring the efficient collection and treatment of wastewater. •The re-arrangement of the green areas and the graves surrounding the medina. •The reorganisation of some places by creating some guest houses and small hotels in the Abdellah Guennoun place and Ben Khaldoun place. •The rearrangement of the medina cornice and the trenches. •Establishing tourist tours for promoting the historical monuments of Asilah medina
Before and after restoration
Before
After
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After
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Before
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After
After
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After
Before
After`
Before
Before
After
After
Before
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After
After
Before
After
Before
After
Before `
After
Gates (Babs)
2
• The Medina has five gates as you see on the map. • Two of these gates are the main gates for the Medina ( Bab el-Kasaba & Bab el-Homar)
1. Bab Krikia
2. Bab Bhar
1
4 5
3. Bab El Kasaba The main entrance, Bab al-Kasaba, leads to the Great Mosque
1
4. Bab souk
3
3. Bab el-Homar
One of the gates to the medina of Asilah, situated in a round fortifications tower ; Burj Bab al-Homar.
Mosques (Jamaa) 2
1. The grand mosque
1
3 5
4
A bright-green door gives entrance to this mosque in the centre of the medina. It has a certain charm with its low roof and centrally positioned octagonal minaret.
2. Lalla Saida mosque
3. Zegouri mosque
4. Sidi mbarek
5. Ben ayad mosque
MADRASAS (ZAOUIA) • Asilah has four Madrassas.
1. Zaouia Tijâniyya This Zaouia has two doors painted in blue and in the middle of the wall towards the Haddada there is a niche at the wall which indicates the Qiblah which is an Arabic word for the direction that should be faced when a Muslim prays during Salah 2. Zaouia Aïssaoua
(Sidi Mohammed Ben Aïssa)
3. Zaouia Qâdiriyya
(Moulay Abdelqader)
4. The Zaouia Hamadcha
 Representative buildings of Asilah
2
1. Sidi Ahmed Mansour tomb
1
2. Sidi Ahmed Mansour tomb
3. Hammam of Al- Medina
3
1
1.The Hassan II International Meeting Centre •
An exhibition space. It’s in a beautiful medina house and displays a revolving exhibition of international painting and sculpture in its gallery.
2. The Raissouni Palace
• •
Raissouni Palace is a towering symbol for the area’s renaissance. and it is a magnet for all things artistic, creative and historical
2 3
3. Dar Manara
• •
Located on the northern coast of Morocco , the Dar Manara is in the heart of the Medina. It offers rooms with en-suite facilities It was inspired by the Arab Andalusian architecture, all materials used for construction and decoration have been crafted by hand
More  representative areas in Asilah .. 2. Rehan cemetery
1. Ahfir Souk
The Ahfir Souk surrounding the Portuguese defensive walls .
3. The long beach
The beach of Asilah is extremely conveniently located, beginning just a kilometre north of the medina; many of the hotels are positioned right between the two attractions. the other beach of Asilah, 3 km south, is called Paradise Beach. You can get out here by horsedrawn carriage.
Located on the edge of Asilah city.
4. The Jewish cemetery
 The cemetery in Asilah lies just down the coast from the city center. It is easily accessed by foot.
International arts festival in Asilah
The Asilah Arts Festival is an annual cultural extravaganza that takes place in the Moroccan port town of Asilah. During the month of August, the town is imparted with colour, exuberance and dynamism with a sophisticated mix of artists and world travellers looking to mingle and celebrate.
Conclusion • arch-shaped gates are a feature of the Moroccan Medinas.gates are all painted
in blue, green or cyan – so are are the windows, roofs and panels. Even mosques are also given their own shade of turquoise. I find the matching color palette a feast for the eyes. • The restoration operation of the historical buildings including public • buildings, historical ramparts, and traditional houses. • Prior to the rehabilitation project the town had no particular social distinction. In
1977 it was a coastal town with a population of 11,000 people. In various documentation and guidebooks it was only listed as being the first stop south from the larger city of Tangiers. • At the time the award was given in 1989 it was recorded that 150,000 people came to the festivals. • Urban facilities: transforming some buildings into social, educational •
and handicraft professional training equipment's.
• https://
www.lonelyplanet.com/morocco/asilah/attractions/ asilah-medina/a/poi-sig/1404053/355502 • http://www.essaouira.nu/culture_zaouia.htm • http://asilah-darmanara.com/en/how-to-get-there/ • https://
www.journeybeyondtravel.com/blog/raissouni-palac e-asilah-morocco.html