Aziza Chaouni: How I brought a river, and my city, back to life

How I brought a river, and my city, back to life

The Fez River winds through the medina of Fez, Morocco—a mazelike medieval city that's a World Heritage site. Once considered the "soul" of this celebrated city, the river succumbed to sewage and pollution, and in the 1950s was covered over bit by bit until nothing remained. TED Fellow Aziza Chaouni recounts her 20 year effort to restore this river to its former glory, and to transform her city in the process.

The Fez River, once the vibrant heart of Morocco's ancient medina, was hidden for decades under concrete and trash. Pollution and urban stress erased public spaces and cut the city off from its natural soul. By uncovering the river and transforming its banks into pedestrian pathways, abandoned lots became plazas and playgrounds. This effort shows that reimagining urban infrastructure can revive community life and preserve cultural heritage.