Revitalizing the medina of Tunis as a national symbol

Escher, Anton; Schepers, Marianne

doi:10.3112/erdkunde.2008.02.03

Cited by 9 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Housing 100,000 inhabitants, this Medina is home to hundreds of historical sites and 15,000 houses strengthening its urban structure over time (Z. Mouhli, personal communication, 15 January 2016). The mayor of Tunis of that time suggested founding this organization (Escher & Schepers, 2008, p. 129). Hassib Ben Ammar, a militant, politician and editor of the first independent journal, Errai , was the mayor of Tunis between 1963 and 1969.…”

Section: Heritage Management In Tunisia and The Medina Of Tunismentioning

confidence: 98%

“…To describe the history and the geography of the Medina (Figure 1), Escher and Schepers (2008) explain that this traditional settlement is one of the first old Arab Medinas, and it is classified as a world heritage by UNESCO. Covering an area of 299 hectares, the Medina of Tunis, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage in 1979, is made up of a central Medina (8th C) and two suburbs (13th C).…”

Section: Heritage Management In Tunisia and The Medina Of Tunismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At this time, the first inns (maison d’hôtes) and several exclusive restaurants were built. During the final years of the twentieth century, the real estate business boomed in the old town’ (Escher & Schepers, 2008, p. 34). In our case scenario, this entrepreneurial trend started to be shaped by the cultural and political changes taking place in the country.…”

Section: History and Transition Of A House To A Luxury Boutique Hotelmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Restoration of Tangible and Intangible Artefacts in the Tunisian Landscape: ‘Boutique Hotels’ and the Entrepreneurial Project of Dar Ben-Gacem

Faleh

2019

Journal of Heritage Management

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This research stems from a theoretical study of the Medina of Tunis, as a continuity of the author’s doctoral research. The broader study from which the concepts are drawn is part of a PhD project, in architecture and humanities, focused on the effects of globalization on the Medina of Tunis. Studies and publications of the houses of the Medina of Tunis are lacking from the literature, in the Anglo-Saxon world, thus the interest of the author is to build a new body of knowledge examining historical restoration projects in Tunisia. This research article traces the challenges faced by the Medina of Tunis in the twenty-first century. It does so by evaluating a restoration and conversion project of seventeenth century Dar Ben-Gacem into a boutique hotel or ‘Hotel de Charme’. The project is unique as it reflects an architectural and entrepreneurial initiative of its owners aiming to work alongside the Medina’s small businesses, local artisans and the community at large. In this context, this research examines the architectural and socio-cultural challenges faced by the owners as well as the architects to preserve the identity of the building while diversifying the use of its spaces. This study first examines the history of Dar Ben-Gacem and the transition of the traditional courtyard house into a ‘cosmopolitan’ guest house that attracts visitors and tourists from all cultures and nationalities. Later, it explores the motivations and commitments of the owners to revive tangible and intangible artefacts through architecture as well as the social and cultural entrepreneurship of Tunisia’s rich cultural history. Ultimately, this theoretical study evaluates the challenges faced in such projects to revive the cultural heritage of the house while shaping a ‘story’ of a generation. Restoration projects in the Medina vary in scale and purpose. The consideration of both tangible and intangible artefacts in this historical context is highly important as it delves into the question of heritage in the age of tourism and globalization.

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Section: Heritage Management In Tunisia and The Medina Of Tunismentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Heritage Management In Tunisia and The Medina Of Tunismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: History and Transition Of A House To A Luxury Boutique Hotelmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Restoration of Tangible and Intangible Artefacts in the Tunisian Landscape: ‘Boutique Hotels’ and the Entrepreneurial Project of Dar Ben-Gacem

Faleh

2019

Journal of Heritage Management

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“…as Saidi (2012, p. 83) argues, this is 'the main circuit that is most frequented by tourists' . Paradoxically, the streets of Sidi Ben arous and its continuation to rue du Pacha or Dar El Jeld, which are increasingly commodified (see Escher & Schepers, 2008), are not included in any of the official routes proposed.…”

Section: Strategies For Walking In the Medinamentioning

confidence: 99%

Tourists’ walking rhythms: ‘doing’ the Tunis Medina, Tunisia

Sarmento

2016

Social & Cultural Geography

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The contemporary medina of Tunis is intimately connected to the various urban development stages of the city at large. Despite its UNESCO status and undisputable attractions, the medina is peripheral to Tunisian tourism development. Yet its maze of streets is walked on a daily basis by numerous tourists, who bring flair, choreographies and rhythms which also constitute the medina. While there are a growing number of studies focusing on tourists' movements, using technologies that allow for accurate mapping of timespace trajectories, I argue that we have much to learn from the embodied ways in which tourists move in an unknown terrain. Inspired by Lefebvre's rhythmanalysis, this paper explores tourists' rhythms and modes of walking, including their performances, body languages, stops and advances, and gaze interactions. Drawing on a combination of mobile methodologies, interviews and online comments, I argue that tourists engage in many different walking rhythms, which shift quickly according to the situation. It is the complex manner in which tourist bodies, rhythms and urban forms intersect within the contemporary city that contributes to the construction of the city itself. Rythmes des touristes à pied: promenade dans la Medina à Tunis, en Tunisie RÉSUMÉ La médina contemporaine de Tunis est étroitement liée aux différentes étapes de l'ensemble du développement urbain de la ville. Malgré son statut d'UNESCO et ses attractions touristiques incontestables, la médina est secondaire par rapport au développement touristique tunisien. Pourtant, au quotidien, de nombreux touristes se promènent dans le dédale de ses ruelles et apportent une touche de style, des chorégraphies et des rythmes, qui eux aussi constituent la médina. Bien qu'il y ait un nombre croissant d'études qui se concentrent sur les mouvements des touristes, en utilisant des technologies qui permettent une cartographie exacte des trajectoires spatiotemporelles, je soutiens que nous avons beaucoup à apprendre des façons incarnées dont les touristes se déplacent sur un terrain inconnu. Inspiré de l'analyse du rythme de Lefebvre, cet article explore les rythmes et les modes de promenade des touristes, incluant leurs comportements, langage corporel, arrêts et progrès, ainsi que les

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“…Tourism is not the only factor which determines the transformation process affecting the souks. In colonial times the French decided that some medinas, as well as their souks, would serve as vital symbols of the primitivism of Islamic precolonial culture (Escher & Schepers 2008). This decision resulted in them being converted into open-air museums.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional and spatial changes of souks in Morocco’s imperial cities in the context of tourism development

Kania

Kałaska

2019

Miscellanea Geographica

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Souks have undergone functional and spatial changes in the Moroccan medinas since colonial times due to the tourist activities. The rate of the changes increased at the end of the 20th century because of the expansion of tourism projects. However, there are no publications on the evolution of Moroccan souks in the context of tourism development. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to determine the types of transformations the souks underwent as a result of the dynamic development in this sector of economy. The research focused on two imperial cities: Marrakech and Rabat. Data for analysis was obtained through observations and field interviews in 2014 and by bibliographic query. A retrospective study was carried out which included identification of mechanisms affecting the contemporary organization and physiognomy of the commercial streets. The authors’ work allowed for an identification of development phases of the Moroccan souks under the influence of tourism.

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Revitalizing the medina of Tunis as a national symbol

Cited by 9 publications

References 3 publications

Restoration of Tangible and Intangible Artefacts in the Tunisian Landscape: ‘Boutique Hotels’ and the Entrepreneurial Project of Dar Ben-Gacem

Restoration of Tangible and Intangible Artefacts in the Tunisian Landscape: ‘Boutique Hotels’ and the Entrepreneurial Project of Dar Ben-Gacem

Tourists’ walking rhythms: ‘doing’ the Tunis Medina, Tunisia

Functional and spatial changes of souks in Morocco’s imperial cities in the context of tourism development

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