Transformation of the notion of the public facility in Fez & it’s future. The evolution of educational institutes in Fez and it’s effects on the Urban /Architectural values & development in the city// A Brief Urban analysis of city of Fez // Abstract // No doubt that the city of Fez had bor from its surrounding creating a In this research paper I will start with faced a “Golden-Age” of flourished divorce between the public institution a brief urban analysis of the city, economy and culture. Once it have and the inhabitants. where I will explain the historical became a central power in the North background behind the city develop- African region. This ingenuity of a city Today, Fez a city of 1.2 M inhabitant ment and evolution backed up with was accompanied with one of the old- has nothing to offer to its inhabitants morphological diagrams and index- est living educational institutes in the and visitor except it’s historical jewels es. I will also reinforce my research world Al-Qarawiyyin University and and an open museum of old artifacts, question with articles related to dozens of public academic institutes and Al-Qarawiyyin University & Li- my subject. This research is also a “scientific & theological” (, brary a handicapped institution which comparison between the past and the courts, and hospitals) that are inter- is facing hard time regaining it own present relationship between aca- locked in the cities old alleys which greatness where 80% of its area and demic public buildings and the city. are located in an area estimated to be became a religious building. around 1km in diameter. This aca- •What was the reason behind this sci- demic concentration have effected I am not here in a position of criticiz- entific revolution at that time? Science the quality of the city’s development ing religion and its institution, rather to and religion? on all levels since the 9th century till lit on the evolution and transformation •What was the role of religious institu- the 15th century where it reached a of academic institutions in the city. tion in the past? stagnate phase of development and expansion. While the city lost its polit- ical power and economical influence until the mandate era in the beginning of the 20th century under the French protection where the city have faced its first step towards modernization. A step which have initiated a modern city expansion with modern urban de- sign mentality which has contradicted the old “Fezian” mindset of living. This modernization project has also af- fected the institutional level, and new schools, universities, judicial systems, and the social behavior. The shocking modernization or to be more direct the westernization of the city under the French mandate World map Location created a gap between he past and present, and many old institutes didn’t fit well with western institutional model and people started to appreci- ate the westernized education more and hence the old Public Islamic educational institutes simply lost its role in the community and most of the buildings turned into prayer halls or a mosques. And if there is someone to be blamed is the French modern- ization doctrine, on one hand it has achieved a huge role in developing the institutions, but on the other hand it couldn’t achieve the essence of renaissance and the French revo- lution which is the secular doctrine. Since the evacuation of old public institutions and replacing them with only religious have created a single minded society. Nevertheless, the reallocation of major effective institu- tions to the city edges and outskirts also detached a major public neigh- Regional Mapping A Brief Urban analysis of city of Fez //

•How did the Waqi’f the Muslims Geopolitical overview: when the Almoravid Sultan Yusuf ibn public ownership institution trans- Located in the heart of the north- Tashfin united the two settlements formed functions of most buildings ern part of , at the edge of and rebuilt the city, which became into religious? Atlas-Mid. today’s quarter. Under The city is surrounded with a natural the Almoravid rule, the city gained wall or edge , which lead to a one sid- the reputation for the religious schol- My research question is the following: ed expansion to the south and south arship and the mercantile activity. west. Today, the city largely consists of two old medina quarters, Fes el Bali and Historical Overview: How did the evolution of old/new Fez was founded under the Idrisid , and modern urban area educational/religious public insti- rule during the 8th-9th century. It con- of Ville Nouvelle constructed during tutes in Fez influenced the Urban / sisted of two autonomous and com- the French colonial era. The medina Architectural development & quali- peting settlements. After the downfall of Fez is listed as a World Heritage ty in the city? of the , several empires Site and is believed to be one of the came and went until the 11th century world’s largest urban pedestrian zones (car-free areas) wikipedia

General overview map of the city of Fez

Old city map A Brief Urban analysis of the city of Fez // Morphological Study 5 Elements of the city •PATHS •NODES •EDGE •LANDMARK •DISTRICT The city of Fez was subjected to several urban expansion of it neighborhoods throughout the history. In the beginning the city was established over a river and just on the base of a mountainous terrain on its north. This geographical posi- tion forced Fez to expand more to the south due to the geologi- cal barrier on the north. The city was divided into two basic neighborhoods Qaraw- iyyin quarter and the Andalus quarter. The urban expansions from the 10th century till the 15th century was related also to the development and increased number of multi-disciplinary institutes, and to be more spe- cific the education or academic institutions. As I stated before in this re- search, that institutions where accompanied by a religious spaces and this was the tra- dition in the large institutions such as the Qarawiyyin Uni- versity. But many institutions where Independence and religion free specially when it comes to the madrasas which their immense number in com- pared to the old times, and the concentration of academic building in the city center is clear in the following diagrams. The last diagrams indicates the high concentration of ma- drasas in the old city, and this have affected the urban devel- opment on several dimensions socio-economical, educational, political, and technological. Continue // Morphological Study

Nevertheless, the relationship between public facilities and the city is tight and insepara- ble. The cultural/religious back- ground of the inhabitants and those who used to visit the city transformed it into an Urban Educational Laboratory in the past. And we can clearly de- fine the improvement in urban and architectural qualities in the city, for instance, the wa- ter systems, sewage systems was well developed compared to other cities. And the Urban fabric reflects a quality of inter- locked multidisciplinary func- tions in a single quarter.

Circulation overflow in the old Medina Mapping // Fez El-Bali is known as the world largest city per pedestrian paths car free areas.

The routing system in old Fez is represents a mental or a visual areas paths through most of a complex woven pattern, new representation of the density the institutes. Where two main visitors get lost easy in the city and the flow of motion in the corridors start at one point because the urban expansion old city of Fez. and both ends at a triangle of which happen in the past was And we can observe from an old covered mall, copper organic The following diagram this map that the more dense district , and the Qarawiyyin University which also leads to Mental mapping of pedestrian flow and concentration of the city of Fez Al-Bali concentration of institutes and schools. The two corridors are forming an arteries and a vein like with many minor vessels that branches into a single pe- destrian . This intensity of circulation in the old city Fez Al-Bali is a result of a high concentration of institutionalized facilities in the city where we can allocate more than 13 schools and universities, commercial district in an area that covers not more than 1 square kilometer. According to Ibn Khaldun, there is a ties took place. The mosque was the The functional diversity and distinction between the jamih mosque first organized collective school for the physical usage of the and local mosques. He notes that men, women, and children in Arab “city mosques are of two kinds, great history. This was an informal method mosques the building in old spacious ones, which are prepared of teaching, which was ultimate- Fez // for holiday prayers, and other minor ly organized in a systematic way. Paper Analysis. ones,which are restricted to one sec- Scholars originally taught Theology, The Mosque Function at Present // tion of the population or one quarter language, and literature, followed After addressing all the remarkable of the city and which are not for gen- by chemistry, physics, engineering, roles that mosques have played erally attended prayers.” and medicine, among other subjects. throughout history of Muslim cities, In Islam, once a mosque is built, it Learning institutions in Muslim lands we can now see that there is a huge does not belong to any human There developed to take on a variety of limitation in its role and function. is no such thing as membership in forms. These ranged from mosques, Today, mosques primarily function or of a mosque; every Muslim in the to madrasas, to kuttab, and zawaaya. as places where aspects of worship world is equally entitled to attend all The masjid was the central focus of are performed and only occasional functions and to use all facilities. This intellectual activity, and a medium for educational activities take place. is a practical result of the mosque be- the distribution of books. Compared to the past, the social ing a waqf––a perpetual trust which and administrative roles of mosques the donor relinquished all control of A Social Institution are severely abbreviated. Today by giving it up to God. One unique aspect of the mosque in mosques have a diminished educa- Islam is its social and community role. tional role since there is a separate • Functional Usage of the building: Besides the call for prayer, all import- ministry of education, under which ant news is announced in the masjid. universities, colleges, schools, and A Spiritual and Religious Institution sometimes even madrasas function. Within the mosque, worshipers are An Administrative Institution Mosques also tend to have fewer to feel satisfaction, attain tranquility, It was a center for collecting for the Important social and welfare roles acquire mercy and devotion, and needy, for discussions of important since there is a separate ministry for release daily worries. matters with companions through social welfare and other community consultation and exchanging of views organizations that deal with communi- An Educational Institution and ideas, for signing agreements, ty welfare. The same separation of The masjid was an educational center and for judging disputing parties. functions is true for ministries of in which different educational activi- health, administration, and so on.

Abdel-hay Z.M. The Masjid, Yesterday and Today,CIRS, Georgetown University School of foreign service in Qatar (Reference) Historical reflection // tween universal technological scienc- The Qarawiyyin University A woman by the name of Fatima Fihri- es and local traditional foundations. and Its Role in Fez // yya founded the University of ‘Al-Qa- However, the level of the research rawiyyin’ in the year 245 A.H. and teaching conducted therein is A comparison between the in the middle of the 9th Century C.E. still subjected to serious criticism. past and its present condition, Al-Qarawiyyin is a central mosque There are some contemporary Muslim and how the building is being located in the old city of Fez, Moroc- thinkers who believe that it would be used today. co whose name, ‘Jami’ Al-Qarawiyy- possible to create an Islamic univer- Morocco] the desired integration in,’means‘ The Central Mosque of the sity that organizationally integrates between religion and science has not Townspeople. advanced science with their authentic been achieved. The role of the university historically culture. That this kind of integration Universities that imitate the West will wasn’t merely religious. Rather, it has will be made possible if Islam itself be unable to integrate the scientific played a cultural, social,and politi- opens up, and holds out the prospect and the spiritual. Therefore, the Islam- cal role in educating, directing, and of a promising future – not only for ic universities have to make a huge reforming the lives of the individuals Muslims, but for the entire world. One effort to adapt science. of the Muslim world community. of the leading figures in this regard His assertion that progress is not Al-Qarawiyyin is also argued to be the was Prof. Zaki Badawi (1922-2006), possible without democratization first university’ in the world ever to be whose own life is a fine representation accords with the lessons of history. It established,which rivals Azhar Uni- of the idea of bridging Islam and the appears to me, therefore, that without versity of Cairo, Egypt int his claim. West. liberated thought, women’s equality, Al-Qarawiyyin gave birth not just to According to Badawi, if the Muslims individual freedom, representative religious scholars. It also at one time could come to draw on a moderate politics, freedom of information and in its history produced great jurists, they would be able to extract them- organization, and the sanctification of theologists, historians, mathemati- selves from their current marginal the rights and sovereignty of the “oth- cians, time observation experts, as- location in world science. One of er”, it is doubtful whether a productive tronomers, physicians, ascetics,doc- the reasons for this is that modern academy will emerge. If the fields of tors of literature,language,and poets. science has rebelled against God… knowledge that deal with people and Add to that, classes were not restrict- Science represents itself as a boat society as free systems are margin- ed to matriculated students. Classes traversing the sea at great speed, alized, then it will be impossible to were also open to merchants, crafts- though there is no one at the wheel to join the West, or even really compete men, farmers, laborers,and others direct it. So it is sailing very quickly, with it. Without interpreting science who at tended with the aim of perfect- covering great distances, but aim- in terms of freely aspiring to uncover ing their knowledge of their various lessly.Having so decisively detached that which is hidden, instead of mem- crafts and arts. one from the other, the West no lon- orizing that which is already known, ger knows how to integrate science there will be no innovative Islamic The universities current situation and religion. There is no alternative universities in positions of leader- a dilemma between orthodox and to rejoining spirituality and science, ship. Badawi’s comments also imply westernization of the institution // and because that is necessarily that in order to advance science in Based on the International Confer- how things will be in the twenty-first the Islamic world, it must open itself ence on Education Reform and Mod- century. fully to the achievements of Western ern Management. The Islamic university defined as an science, its concepts, tools, and val- Modern universities have developed academic institution that is committed ues. In fact, in order to do all this, the in the Middle East along Western both to spreading religious belief, and Muslims must redefine themselves, models. They departed from the re- to advancing the practical sciences though without giving up on their ligious concepts of knowledge upon and learning the languages of the identity. which the old Islamic institutions of West. This kind of institutional appa- If this happens, then the history learning had been founded. The Mid- ratus has been in existence for some of modern higher education in the dle Eastern university is still undergo- time, and has become much larger Middle East would come full cir- ing change and seeking its identity. during recent decades. Example the cle. If Islam is flexible enough to The latter seeks co-existence be- universities of Al-Qarawiyyin [Fes, include the values of science as formulated in the West and can integrate them with its own renewal, then maybe the circle will be closed with a return to both the sources and progress.

Erlich,H. The Islamic University, Is there a winning combination. Department of Middle Eastern and African History, Tel Aviv University, Isreal (Reference) Modern Institutions, a di- lemma between the Islamic mindset and the western- ized modern education // A lost identity or a conflict in ben- efits! City Edge The physical detachment of the educational institutes and the city // The influence of civic centers on the old city urban expansion and devel- opment. The Masjid, Yesterday and Today, and it’s unique role in the past as an educational facility and what it offers today to Fez? And how does the modern institutions reacts to the surrounding and affect- ing the urban fabric of a stagnant area which needs to be upgraded?

City Edge City Edge

A mapping of modern academic institutions locations in the city and their relation with their surroundings in the new city. As a personal reflection I would Social & Cultural: Economical: like to state the following argu- Where the influence of ac- The economic benefits which ment: ademic environment on its are generated from such in- Educational institutions are surrounding is direct and make stitutions are wide and comes beneficial and essential in the societies more exposed to a from different resources such quality of the city in general scientific mentality and gener- as real estates quality develop- and affects its surrounding ates cultural interactions and ment, services, commerce and “Society” in many dimensions diversity as it attracts foreign- technological advancements and levels. ers and enriches the mindset. which opens new industries. During a visit to EuroMed University of Fez we noticed that the university was deserted and located at the city out-skirts.

City Edge The mosque space in Modern City a contrast be- physical place// tween past and present // A public attachment, coopera- The Historical bonding be- tion or a conflict? tween residential areas and educational institutes is vast and very clear in the old madi- na through architectural inter- ventions and wealth, while we can observe a detachment in the modern city of Fez no archi- tectural values imposed neither economical value.

Questionnaire done in at the Qarawiyyin mosque with 5 different persons with different age range and backgrounds. As part of my research on the his- order to understand more the social In contrary with the old city the new torical influence and transformations attachment to a public facility and educational facilities are located on of institution’s functions in the city of how do the public institution affects the city peripheries and out-skirts Fez, a questionnaire on the functional emotionally on its surrounding. which indicates a detachment from its attachment, place identity, and emo- surrounding while on the other hand tional attachment within the Qarawiy- On the other hand, the map below we can see a high concentration yin facility. allocates the religious Vs educational of religious facilities inside the city The questions where given to 5 differ- public institutions in the new city of neighborhoods.. ent people I met during my site visit. Fez. My reflection on this criteria is to revi- The questions where based on a This map helps me in defining the talize the city connection with a better personal reflection from the society in physical placement of each function. quality facilities. Mental mapping of religious institution concentration in comparison to the educational & academic institutions in new Fez Research summary and Conclusion //

In the beginning of my research, I is today doesn’t have any role except projecting a potential growth around questioned the fact of the deterio- a mosque and a small theological them. rated architectural qualities in many school. Nevertheless, the questionnaire re- neighborhoods in Moroccan cities The research is based on an Urban flects a high attachment of people to such as the Bidonvilles in Casablan- research approach based on histor- the religious buildings in general, and ca, or specially in Fez. On the other ical evidences, morphological urban through out the map they are situated hand, I was also astonished by the maps, categorization of functions, inside the cities neighborhoods serv- architectural qualities of many histori- censoring accessibility around the ing as a religious facility only. cal buildings which witnessed a years academic public buildings, and allo- As a personal reflection, since the of advancements and cutting-edge cating them in the city and analyze high number of religious buildings in sciences in the past. Yet, when I their influence on their surrounding. the city, and due to its solitary func- arrived to Fez I realized that theres is I also backed up my summary with tion and its mostly used by males. no many social housing as in the city a questionnaire I did when I visited The idea of resurrecting the history of Casablanca. Thus, our trip to Eu- Al-Qarawiyyin Complex. of a mosque as not only a religious romed University left in me a wonder- From my research, i realized that the facility and generate new conceptual ing impression why they are creating old city of Fez was surely developed approaches of the building spatial starting a new educational institution upon the Qarawiyyin campus on an organization in order to be more pos- while as researched before that Fez urban and social level, and that the itive with the society on a civic level has the oldest continuing university. city was full of educational institutes as well as on the women and children And my second question was a pub- as per area. After that I have sum- empowerment. lic private partnership academic in- marized a paper which reflects on I personally believe that most reli- stitution should be also beneficiary to the history of public buildings in Fez gious societies in many countries its surrounding not only on academic where a single building was used in faces a cultural delay and lack of level but also on an urban level. for several functions, while today it innovative mentality in some cases. On the other hand, during my visit has only one single function which is However if this the case then reli- to the Qarawiyyin University, I was religious. gious facilities should be more human expecting more rooms, students, Then I went through the history of friendly and spaces should be rear- tutors, or even a campus life, but i Al Qarawiyyin University and the ranged for the public benefit. As well realized that 70% of the building is reasons behind the urge need of an as the idea reallocation of academic prayer hall with a courtyard, and the update on the social acceptance of institute towards inside the cities rest was the library which comparably science throughout an academic neighborhoods as they generate small, and I new that there is an old research paper which describes the spacial quality and creates bond with reserve of historical texts but there is scientific facts of the decay. the surrounding in order to at least no access to it. For all this I wanted to In addition, I mapped the modern ed- maintain a certian balance between research more about this subject and ucational facilities on the urban level, science and religion. how did this ancient public building and noticed that most of the public fa- effected on its surrounding and why it cilities are situated on the city edges,