Section II, “Architectural and Historical Context and Significance” of the of the Historic Structure Report on the American Legation in Tangier, Morocco is now available on Archnet. You can find it by going to the the page for TALIM and selecting the link above the description labeled “Publication.”
This section of the report explains the historical and architectural significance of the structure, beginning with a general diplomatic history of Tangier. It then provides a functional and architectural history of the Legation building, including the modifications to the building, starting when the United States and Morocco first began negotiations, through the acquisition of Legation in 1821, damage to the property during bombardments of Tangier, expansions by the consul in the 1920s, the role of the Legation during World War II, and finally the conversion into a museum in 1975-1976. Finally it ends with an assessment of the current condition of the property. It is illustrated with historic images and plans.
The two volume report was prepared by the Department of State Office of Overseas Building Operations in 2011, and extensively documents the condition of the Legation at the time. As noted in the source list on the description of the Legation, the report was an important source for Archnet’s entry on the Legation.
Archnet is a globally-accessible online reference focused on architecture, urbanism, environmental and landscape design, visual and material culture, and conservation issues in Muslim societies. The Legation is certainly noteworthy in it’s architectural and historical significance, but it is also a fine example of topics highlighted in Archnet’s collection, such as the adaptive re-use of noteworthy structures.
