Characterizing Sustainability and Assessing Biophilic Design in Vernacular Architecture: Case of Kasbahs and Ksour in South of Morocco

In recent decades, sustainability and biophilic design have gained significant attention as revived concepts in architecture, offering innovative pathways to reconnect the built environment with nature. Can these principles be characterized and assessed in vernacular architectural contexts so as to be incorporated into contemporary sustainable practices? This research seeks to answer this question by examining the vernacular architecture of Kasbahs and Ksour in southern Morocco through the lens of biophilic design. The link between the two remains underexplored, specifically in the context of southern Morocco—a gap this article seeks to address. This research analyzes these heritage architectures by combining a theoretical exploration of sustainability, biophilic design (BD), and operational BD frameworks with a practical evaluation using a Biophilic Interior Design Matrix. This analysis is particularly pertinent as the contemporary society spends roughly 90% of its time indoors and is considered to be an “indoor generation”. After examining eleven vernacular buildings spread over key areas of Ouarzazate Province in southern Morocco against 54 biophilic design attributes, the findings reveal that Kasbahs and Ksour showcase sustainability and biophilic qualities. This demonstrates that Moroccan traditional architectural values can enable heritage preservation through biophilic principles to deliver culturally contextual and sustainable architectural solutions for contemporary practice.