Exploring Architecture in the Periphery: Emerging Practices after World War 2

The way current emerging architectural practices are leaving established paths because they do not offer the right framework or supportive structure for their endeavors resembles the way emerging practices in the period shortly after World War 2 developed by challenging conventional practice. This text investigates European architects’ venturing to explore the non-western building cultures of Morocco shortly after WW2 with a focus on the emerging practices of Danish architect Jørn Utzon (1918-2008) and Norwegian architect Sverre Fehn (1924-2009), while also relating to an architectural practice being developed at the same time by architects in Morocco within the French protectorate. The text concludes that today’s architects can learn from these pioneers by developing new architectural practices by seeking out “the periphery” of the western world.