ANALYSIS OF URBAN RENEWAL ATTEMPT AND ITS IMPACTS ON HISTORIC LANDSCAPE: THE MEDINA OF MONASTIR AS CASE STUDY
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Abstract
The historic center of the city of Monastir, commonly named “Medina”, remains a typical example of traditional urban fabric with organic and compact morphology that did not succeed in keeping its original characteristics of the 8th century. Since the independence, in the late 1950’s, its urban morphology and historic landscape has been witnessing radical transformations after several demolitions, conversions and reconstructions which turned the existing codes of vernacular architecture upside down and reformulated local urbanism. The former Tunisian president, ambitious to modernize the nation at that time, gave this mission to the architect Olivier-Clément Cacoub, who followed the presidential decisions to renovate the image of the historic center and then proposed a new urban planning of a seaside resort and attractive city with contemporary landscape. After two decades of anarchic and unfinished operations, traditional architecture lost its authenticity and the project of urban renewal ended with unexpected results. It caused urban marginalization of the historic center, disfigurement, irreversible loss of heritage value and monuments, affected local identity and until today multiple stigmata are still visible. Our paper deals with this attempt of urban renewal, through highlighting its different steps and initiated operations. We also draw attention to detecting the involved actors and impacts on urban identity, heritage value and authentic landscape. Nowadays, the Medina of Monastir is no longer the city of fortresses as it has been suffering from obsolescence and depreciation since decades. Thus, strict heritage policy must be immediately implanted today to valorize its remaining historic monuments, heritage assets and landscape.
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