Rural vernacular dwellings: Balancing heritage and contemporary influences. A study of the Tiylit commune in Tamazouzte, a rural commune within Al Haouz province
Houda ZERRAF, Inna Yaya AISSATOU HAMADOU
Abstract. This research on vernacular architecture highlights the crucial importance of “time” in the continuous adaptation to changes in socio-cultural, economic, technological, and environmental spheres. Examining the development of these structures provides a valuable understanding of their profound links to historical contexts. In Morocco, significant changes have occurred in both urban and rural dwellings, especially in recent decades. The rural settlement of Tiylit, situated in the Al Haouz province near the High Atlas Mountains, serves as an illustration of how rural vernacular dwellings have evolved. Field investigations uncover various adaptation strategies. Some houses remain intact and continue to fulfill their original purposes, while others have fallen into disrepair and been converted into livestock enclosures. Many dwellings have undergone hybrid construction, integrating new materials into older structures. These transformations are driven by social, economic, and technical factors, as well as a shift in residents’ perceptions of comfort.
Keywords
Vernacular Architecture, Time, Change, Forms, Functions, Rural Dwellings, Morocco, Al Haouz Province
Published online 1/10/2025, 7 pages
Copyright © 2025 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Houda ZERRAF, Inna Yaya AISSATOU HAMADOU, Rural vernacular dwellings: Balancing heritage and contemporary influences. A study of the Tiylit commune in Tamazouzte, a rural commune within Al Haouz province, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 47, pp 91-97, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644903391-10
The article was published as article 10 of the book Vernacular Architecture
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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