Cultural identity plays a pivotal role in shaping interior design, as it encompasses a system of values, symbols, and practices that are embodied in interior spaces and contribute to reinforcing national belonging and preserving heritage. In the age of globalization, however, interior environments are increasingly exposed to homogenized aesthetic trends that risk marginalizing local specificities, which calls for re-integrating local cultural determinants into both residential and representative spaces, especially in the context of the Palestinian diaspora.

This study addresses the following main question: How can enhancing the determinants of Palestinian cultural identity in residential interior design contribute to affirming national presence within diplomatic spaces abroad? The research examines a case study of the interior design of a Palestinian ambassador’s home in Morocco, by integrating elements of Palestinian heritage – such as inspired embroidery motifs, the olive tree, and selected popular symbols – with key features of Moroccan style, including arches, geometric ornament, and natural local materials, in order to generate an interior space that embodies interaction between the two cultures and foregrounds Palestinian identity within a contemporary Moroccan context.

The study adopts a descriptive–analytical, case study approach. It first reviews the concept of cultural identity and its main determinants in both the Palestinian and Moroccan contexts, then analyses the material and symbolic determinants proposed in the design of the entrance hall and living room of the ambassador’s residence, as representative spaces that receive guests and project a particular image of national identity. The findings indicate that interior design can serve as an effective medium for reinforcing cultural identity and expressing national belonging, and that integrating Palestinian elements with the formal and material characteristics of Moroccan interiors enables the production of a layered cultural identity that reflects coexistence and cultural dialogue rather than visual conflict.

The case study further shows that employing Palestinian heritage symbols – particularly traditional embroidery motifs and the olive tree – alongside Moroccan arches, muqarnas, ornamental patterns, and natural materials such as oak wood and black Marquina marble, strengthens the symbolic dimension of the space and supports its diplomatic role in representing Palestinian culture within a Maghrebi setting. The research recommends systematically incorporating cultural identity determinants into interior design projects, especially in representative spaces such as ambassadors’ residences and cultural institutions, and encouraging designers to treat these determinants as a design resource that enables combining authenticity and contemporaneity rather than as an obstacle to formal and functional innovation.

Keywords: Cultural identity, Palestinian heritage, interior design, diplomatic spaces, Moroccan style, ambassador’s residence.

Title

مجلة الفن و التصميم

Publisher

مجلة الفن و التصميم

Publisher Country

Egypt

Publication Type

Both (Printed and Online)

Volume

4

Year

2026

Pages

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