Rabat -

The old city walls and gates are considered an urban and human heritage that preserves the history of previous eras, and contributes to cultural and identity distinction, including what is included in the common global human heritage.

But cities are expanding and responding to the manifestations of urbanization and the needs of the contemporary citizen, which puts them in a challenge between preserving their architectural heritage and historical peculiarities and creativity and openness.

A tour of the city of Rabat shows the extent of architectural integration between ancient architecture, the flow of development in time towards the architecture of the modern colonial (colonial) era, and the forms of modern architecture that made the city the "capital of lights."

But sometimes this flow towards modernity is not smooth, and it requires an effort to achieve the equation of the traditional and modern city at the same time.

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), “Heritage and creativity help lay the foundations for vibrant, innovative and prosperous knowledge societies.”

The city of Rabat, the capital of Morocco, swims over a history spanning more than 27 centuries, embraces ancient civilizations, documents modern history, and is one of the cities that is constantly evolving.

How can the city's history and heritage be preserved and respond to the times at the same time?

Works are currently suspended on the city's train station project, and the fate of the new facility is not currently known (Al-Jazeera)

common ancestry

In 2012, UNESCO included Rabat, as a modern capital, a historic city and a common heritage, on the World Heritage List.

Rabat is the product of a dialogue between the ancient past, Arab-Islamic history and Western modernity.

Its architectural heritage is unmistakable, and the Hassan Hermitage (which dates back to the Almohad era) is considered a mole on the forehead of the city and denotes it.

Building a legacy for future generations

Adil Ben Hamza, the advisor at the Rabat Region Council, believes that preserving heritage, especially in the urban aspect that relates to the public scene, cannot be in contradiction with the issue of modernity and modernization, which is defined by the urban and urban scene, whether in Rabat or other cities.

Bin Hamza explains, in an interview with Al-Jazeera Net, that what the new urban engineering schools produce is a contribution to building a legacy for future generations, considering that each stage has its own representation of the field, engineering and architectural aesthetics in connection with mobility and the constraints imposed by each historical stage.

This was expressed by the expert in heritage and archaeological research, Abdel-Jalil Hijrawi, by saying that "cultural identity constitutes a distinction for peoples and civilizations, and it is impossible to live without it, but urban expansion and the creation of new buildings are a necessity that feeds the process of history."

Hijrawi, who previously served as Director of Heritage at the Ministry of Culture, told Al Jazeera Net that the problem of preserving heritage is a global challenge, as it is not possible to preserve all forms of historical construction, especially in the case of Morocco, which has a rich and diverse history, according to him.

Heritage and modern teacher

Adel bin Hamza says, "It is logical to distinguish between architecture in 2022 and architecture a thousand years ago, for example. The important thing is that this not be at the expense of that."

Ben Hamza cited the project of the train station in the city center (there is between two complementary architectural styles, the Almohad architecture in the walls surrounding the city, and the Moroccan colonial style of architecture, of which the current station is a part).

The same speaker considers that the station's architecture did not take into account this diversity and integration in the neighboring urban landscape, which is a lesson in the urban landscape transition, according to Ben Hamza's description.

The shape of the huge building sparked a lot of controversy and disapproval, and the heritage protectors mobilized to record positions against the building, especially regarding the facade of the project that faces and threatens the Almohad wall.

The construction work of the new railway station "Rabat Medina" has been halted, and the fate of the building is not yet known.

The teacher of the Grand Theater in Rabat is one of the leading modern projects (Al Jazeera)

Inconsistency with classification criteria

UNESCO had earlier expressed its objection to the way the Moroccan authorities implemented some projects within the framework of a program to develop the capital, Rabat, including the expansion of the railway station, due to their conflict with the criteria adopted by the United Nations to classify the ancient city of Rabat as a world heritage for humanity.

Before the station, the Mohammed VI Tower (a modern building with more than 50 floors on the bank of the Bouregreg Valley), which is overseeing the completion of work, had undergone a previous modification.

According to a UNESCO document, the World Heritage Committee said that the measures taken regarding the visual impact of the tower and its spatial integration have achieved some benefits.

She added that the proposed solutions for the extension of the facade of the "Rabat-Medina" station in parallel with the old one are the most appropriate from an architectural and technical point of view, noting that the details of the project to restore the original building of the station will be submitted to the World Heritage Center conference, for consideration by the advisory bodies.

According to the same source, UNESCO asked Rabat to continue to provide information on ongoing and planned projects that may affect the city's OUV, and to submit to the World Heritage Center by the first of next February an updated report on the state of property preservation, for consideration by a committee World Heritage at its 45th session.

Compatibility is possible.. how?

Abdul Jalil Hijrawi proposes the theory of the part of the whole, and in his conversation with Al Jazeera Net he discusses the criteria for selecting the part expressive of the heritage to keep.

Hijrawi argues for the necessity of convergence of scientific and specialized opinions in various related fields for a common decision.

Hijrawi considered that the problem is "what are the indications for choosing the part from the whole? Who has the authority to carry out this process?"

In a post on the association's official page bearing his signature, the head of the Rabat Al-Fath Association, Abdel Karim Bennani, recorded that the exploits of Rabat are dying, drawing attention to one of the city's gates, "Bab El Ahad", which he considered to be an understatement of the teacher's historical, civilizational and cultural heritage.

"These officials work without regard for the cultural value of these exploits and without referring to those who know this heritage," he said.

Bin Hamza believes that reconciling modernity with preserving heritage is possible when the architects are imbued with the nobility of their civilizational identity, and when the official who formulates the terms of reference has the same level of awareness.

It is noteworthy that the heritage cities in Morocco are witnessing restoration and rehabilitation projects within the "Project to Save Ancient Cities".