The suburbs are often left out of urban planning conversations, but in many cities around the world as they become more and more diverse, they present interesting opportunities to explore strategies for multicultural planning, that bridge services between the city centre and often under-resourced peripheries and celebrate the distinct cultures evolving.

In this episode, we're headed to Tangier, Morocco. My co-host Naziha Nasrin and I speak with Amine Houari of Think Tanger, a non-profit cultural agency shaping Tangier's development through art, research, and collaboration. Together, we discuss crucial topics such as creative insurgency, planning in suburban contexts in Toronto (Scarborough) and Tangier (Bir Chifae), multicultural approaches to community development, and insights for other cultural planning organizations. Additionally, we offer advice for Western cities planning for diverse cultural contexts.

Key insights from the episode include:
  • Planning in multicultural cities and suburbs 
  • The importance of people-centred practices to urban/suburban development
  • Think Tanger's StudioCity program and how it promotes dialogue, arts, city-building, and neighbourhood pride in Tangier
  • The foundational elements of Think Tanger's approach to fostering a more inclusive and engaged community
  • Exploring the colonial history of Tangier and its impact on the city's culture and built environment
  • How Think Tanger uses publications like their magazine MAKAN and their store KIOSK alongside residency programs to support the decolonization of arts and culture in the city
  • Crafting inclusive approaches that resonate with the unique cultural and historical context of a city
  • Strengthening cultural programming and development through strategic collaborations and financial support
  • Inclusive approaches to cultural planning

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Guest: Amine Houari, Think Tanger

Amine Houari, born in Fez, and based in Tangier Morocco is a freshly graduated architect and a documentary photographer, with a deep passion for territoriality and urbanism.

Co-Host: Naziha Nasrin, Program Director of plazaPOPS

My name is Naziha and I am a recent graduate from the University of Toronto's Masters in Planning program. Prior to that, I also completed my undergraduate degree at UofT with a major in Public Policy and a double minor in City Studies and International Development. I'm very passionate about city building and my research interests particularly focus on public space, land use and cultural planning. My research focuses on creating inclusive and equitable public spaces for the Muslim community, particularly Muslim women in relation to prayer and multi-faith rooms and ablution stations in the public realm.

Timestamps

01:44 | Introduction to Naziha, Scarborough, and plazaPOPS
12:27 | Can you please introduce yourself and share a bit about who you are and the work that you do?
14:10 | What is the Think Tanger and how was it created?
18:25 | Can you explain the different work that Think Tanger does, specifically your Studio City program?
27:45 | What does an inclusive approach to your work mean?
33:04 | What does a form of cultural planning look like for you? What are some barriers that your organization has faced when trying to establish new programs like Studio City?
40:07 | How do colonial influences whether French, Spanish, or Arab, affect communal expressions of art, culture, and planning practices in terms of how Think Tanger wants to move forward?
44:41 |Do you have any recommendations that Western cities like Toronto can implement to what Think Tanger is doing?
54:41 | What’s next for Think Tanger?/How can people get involved?
58:51 | Key takeaways from Naziha and Alexandra

Show Notes

Acknowledgements

Sponsorships

This episode is co-sponsored by the University of Toronto School of Cities and the Department of Geography and Planning. 

The School of Cities "convenes urban-focused researchers, educators, students, practitioners and the general public to explore and address complex urban challenges, with the aim of making cities and urban regions more sustainable, prosperous, inclusive and just". To learn more about the School of Cities visit www.schoolofcities.utoronto.ca. 

To learn more about the Department of Geography and Planning and the different undergraduate and graduate programs available please visit www.geography.utoronto.ca.

Support
  • Editor + Music Producer: Imany Lambropoulos
  • Podcast Host and Graphic Designer: Alexandra Lambropoulos

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