Coastal vernacular architecture: A symbiosis between man and nature example of the city of Tangier
JIDA Rime, Taieb BOUMEAZA
Abstract. It is a work of vernacular architecture in which you can see how people adapt to natural conditions as part of the mutual relationship between mankind and the environment. These time-tested practices, perfected over various generations, reveal the ability of local communities to use natural resources as a method of climate resilience. There the actual outcome and consequences are few wherein they are places where vernacular architecture and coastal regions meet, not only due to what materials can be used during construction within those kinds of environment, but, moreover, it needs to be more resistant towards natural disasters like storms, flooding, coastal erosion, and tsunamis. The old buildings tell a silent story of human communities that have — over time and space — adapted to the harshest conditions. The paper will discuss the process of vernacular architecture transformation to combat natural hazards in coastal regions, specifically focusing on Tangier City (Morocco). Situated in northwest Africa, bridging the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, Tangier provides a diverse case study for examining how traditional architectural practices can coexist with environmental pressures. Using both speculative logic and an empathetic gaze, this piece will merge the brilliant ways that Tangierians have mitigated natural threats with what these practices tell us about today’s urban-ecological conditions.
Keywords
Coastal Architecture, Urbanization, Vernacular Architecture, Climatic Resilience, Tangier, Morocco
Published online 1/10/2025, 6 pages
Copyright © 2025 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: JIDA Rime, Taieb BOUMEAZA, Coastal vernacular architecture: A symbiosis between man and nature example of the city of Tangier, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 47, pp 30-35, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644903391-4
The article was published as article 4 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.
References
[1] Benitez, S. (2019). Traditional Coastal Architecture: Strategies for Resilience. Journal of Coastal Research, 35(2), 345-357. https://doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-17-00195.1
[2] El Hassani, A., & Bahaj, A. S. (2017). Assessment of Coastal Erosion and Flooding Impacts in Morocco. Coastal Engineering, 125, 123-134.
[3] Hamdi, N., & Garcia, M. (2021). Integrating Vernacular Knowledge into Urban Resilience Planning in Morocco. Environmental Planning and Management, 64(8), 1379-1395.
[4] Salim, R. (2022). Climate Change and Coastal Urbanization in Morocco: A Case Study of Tangier. Climate Policy, 22(1), 76-89.
[5] Stevens, M., & Hans, P. (2020). Building Resilient Coastal Communities: Integrating Traditional and Modern Approaches. Journal of Urban Planning, 45(3), 567-590.
