Abstract:
Zanzibar has become a well-known tourist destination with its
spices, friendly people, beaches and year-round warm climate.
The tourism industry has become one of the main economic
sectors of the island and provides income to people from all
economic backgrounds.
Zanzibar’s World Heritage Site, Stone Town, is known for its
small alleyways and plazas. Tourists often get lost in this maze
of alleys. This public open space acts as a place to exchange
ideas, as well as cultural and religious practices. It contributed
to the amalgamation of a cosmopolitan people into the Swahili
culture.
Economic growth over the past 30 years has brought about
rapid urban sprawl with a lack of well-designed public open
spaces. The lack of public open space, as well as the negative
impact of tourism on the local culture, is busy eroding the
Zanzibari culture.
This research investigates how landscape architecture can
nurture identity and aims to showcase the ability of landscape
architecture to act as a catalyst towards nurturing identity
through a well designed public open space.
Mtoni Palace is a national monument of Zanzibar and a site of
high heritage significance. Today, the Palace lies in ruins and
the aim of this study is to provide a new vision for Mtoni Palace.
