ABSTRACT
Cities develop through the layering of spatial expressions of successive temporalities. Colonial cities, however, are first constructed through the juxtaposition of different social orders. Then, the tangential development of the two orders leads to the layering of distinct spatial expressions of different, but not necessarily successive, temporalities. This essay explores the case of Moroccan cities where the juxtaposition of Moroccan and European social orders has led to the layering of a complex postcolonial urban identity. Furthermore, it investigates how the relational development of cities over time blurs the lines between different spatial expressions, despite clear physical and cultural distinctions. Ultimately, this essay aims to reconsider the role of spatial-temporal layering in the creation of the urban identity of Moroccan postcolonial cities.
