Contested Heritages
Contemporary perspective on colonial-era train stations in Morocco via architectural interventions
R. Belboukhaddaoui (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
M. Tenzon – Mentor (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
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Abstract
This thesis examines how colonial-era architecture is perceived in contemporary Morocco, focusing specifically on colonial-era train stations, with the Gare de Rabat-Ville as a central case study. This research explores the significance of colonial-era architecture by an in-depth study of the station’s renovation efforts. Furthermore, it compares the Moroccan framework for
heritage preservation, which distinguishes between traditional and colonial architecture, with
UNESCO’s universal approach. Lastly, the interventions are connected to the ongoing public
debate about the current value of colonial architecture in contemporary Morocco.
Train stations in Morocco are more than just buildings; they are nodes in a colonial
network that reshaped the country’s economy, society and spatial layout (Salhi et al., 2024)
By examining the renovation efforts at the Rabat railway station, this thesis aims to explore
whether the interventions respect the colonial style or change it to fit post-colonial values.
This thesis argues that the renovation efforts reveal an ambivalent attitude towards colonial
heritage, as the perception of French influence has shifted over time in Morocco.
The methodology includes reviewing both primary and secondary resources such as
the public debate, (archival) images that reveal architectural changes, postcards and legal
heritage preservation frameworks on both national and international level.
Morocco’s relationship with its French colonial past is complex and ambiguous, and
this study further aims to explore how the current stance on colonial buildings is reflected in
modern renovation efforts. This thesis offers insights in how cultural identity, colonial legacy
and infrastructure meet in contemporary Morocco.