Access regulation in Islamic urbanism: the case of medieval Fès

Islamic urbanism is characterised by a clear‐cut separation between the public and private domains. This demarcation permeates both the architectural and social structures of the Islamic urban society. In this article, four hierarchical levels of settlement will be studied: 1) the courtyard house, 2) the house compound, 3) the quarter, and 4) the city. Each hierarchical level of settlement will be examined in terms of the social, ethnic or occupational group that resides in it, and the structural manifestations of access regulation. Medieval Fès offers an excellent case study of this type of investigation. It was the object of numerous studies by archaeologists, historians, ethnographers, and architects. Furthermore the city epitomises the Islamic prescriptions of access regulation in an urban setting.