Publications
(Re)building Algiers: Racial Segregation in the “Republican” Empire
Racial segregation in Algiers under French colonial rule was not enforced through formal legal structures but emerged from a sustained process of erasure, racial violence, and expropriation. This study reveals that despite the absence of explicit policies like public health codes or racial covenants, the city's spatial divisions were deeply entrenched, with European settlements expanding outward while the native Algerian population was confined to densely populated areas like the Casbah. The research highlights how these segregated spaces, though invisible in formal governance, became sites of resistance and solidarity for Algerians. The study employs a historical approach to unpack the mechanisms behind this segregation, emphasizing its role in limiting urban possibilities for Algerians while simultaneously fostering zones of resilience.
Multicriteria sustainability evaluation of urban heritage
A novel multicriteria sustainability framework reveals critical vulnerabilities and value patterns in the Kasbah of Algiers, integrating economic, environmental, social, heritage, and institutional dimensions. The study, involving 10 experts across disciplines, employs hierarchical structuring (AHP) and network-based modeling (ANP) to assess the complex interplay between building decay, urban pressure, and tourism dynamics. This approach provides a reproducible protocol that transcends traditional monetary evaluations, offering deeper insights into non-market values and conservation limits in inhabited historic urban fabric.
Revalorisation of Heritage Cultural Landscapes Through an Approach Based on Intangible Atmospheres
Research on the Kasbah of Algiers reveals that heritage atmospheres are shaped by residents' dynamic interactions with social, symbolic, sensory, and spatial dimensions. A key finding is the divergence between professionals, who prioritize spatial aspects, and residents, who value social and symbolic elements more highly. Historical richness fosters attachment, while significant spatial changes lead to disappropriation. The study introduces innovative cartographic tools for inclusive rehabilitation, validating the inclusion of a symbolic dimension in atmosphere theory.
Seismic vulnerability and dynamic response of the minaret of Sidi M’hammed Cherif Mosque: insights from a detailed finite element model
A novel approach combining Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) has successfully quantified the seismic vulnerability of the Sidi M’hammed Cherif Mosque minaret, a UNESCO-listed structure within the Kasbah of Algiers. The study identified critical damage zones at the base and geometric discontinuities, with numerical results aligning closely with observed damage patterns. This restoration-oriented methodology establishes a reproducible framework for assessing slender masonry heritage structures in seismic-prone regions like Algeria, addressing a significant gap in research on Maghreb historic architecture. By integrating seismic risk assessment into conservation planning, the study offers evidence-based recommendations to enhance resilience and inform ongoing restoration efforts.
Algiers as Laboratory of the Multicultural Urban Environment of Western European Civilization (1830-1962)
Algiers' colonial transformation (1830–1962) exemplifies how Western urban planning imposed civilizational dominance while preserving multicultural layers. French architects, prioritizing European styles like Neoclassic and Neo-Moorish, demolished parts of the Casbah to build colonial districts, symbolizing Western superiority. The 'Prost' master plan accelerated this shift, using architecture as a tool for segregation—evident in the Diar-el-Mahsoul housing complex—which reinforced social fragmentation. This case reveals Mediterranean multiculturalism's complexities, where architecture became both an instrument of coercion and a means to organize coexistence. Legacy effects persist today, shaping Algiers' fragmented structure and post-colonial identity struggles.
Algiers: ‘Rock the Casbah' and Post-Colonial Legacies
Algiers, known as the 'White City,' reflects the enduring impact of colonialism and post-colonial struggles on its urban landscape. The city's distinct European and indigenous quarters, along with an interstitial buffer zone, highlight the dual identity shaped by 132 years of French occupation. This legacy has hindered Algiers' modernization, creating a sense of alienation and limiting its potential as a globalizing nation. The study examines 'Arab Modernism' through Algiers' urban form and architecture, revealing how colonial history continues to influence its development in the 21st century.
Analysis of urban multifunctional land use in historical centres: the case of the Casbah of Algiers
A new GIS-based analysis reveals that the Algiers Casbah's Ottoman-era urban fabric embodies multifunctional land use (MLU) principles, demonstrating how traditional cities can achieve sustainability through mixed-density housing and diverse facilities. Unlike modern 'new urbanism' approaches, this study shows MLU emerged organically in historic centres, fostering socially vibrant areas while conserving environmental resources. The research digitised the Casbah's spatial data to quantify its multifunctionality, offering insights into how heritage sites can balance development with ecological and social resilience.
Colonial Legacies in Heritage Conservation in Algeria
Algeria's heritage conservation efforts, particularly for the UNESCO-listed Kasbah of Algiers, face significant challenges rooted in colonial legacies. This study reveals that contemporary conservation practices often fail to address these issues effectively, despite the country's rich cultural and historical assets. By analyzing pre-colonial valuation processes—such as Numidian 'mausoleum culture' and waqf traditions—the research argues for a shift toward homegrown conservation approaches inspired by indigenous care practices rather than French colonial models like 'secteurs sauvegardés.' The findings underscore the need to reconnect with Algeria's deep-seated heritage values to develop culturally appropriate conservation strategies.
Compatible Repair Mortars: A New Methodology Based on Digital Image Analysis Applied to the Casemates of Algiers
A new methodology for creating compatible repair mortars, ensuring they meet the compatibility principle's requirements without compromising the integrity of historic structures, has been developed. This approach combines physical and mechanical testing with Digital Image Analysis (DIA) of mortar thin sections under polarized light to rigorously define original mortar characteristics. Compatibility acceptance criteria, including porosity, bulk density, and compressive strength, are quantified to assess how closely new mortars resemble the original ones. An iterative process for adjusting mix design based on these comparisons was successfully applied to Ottoman military building Casemates in Algiers' Kasbah, demonstrating its effectiveness in preserving cultural heritage while ensuring structural stability.
Controlling Mediterranean Movement
French colonial policing in the Mediterranean, particularly in Algiers' Casbah and Marseille's Rue des Chapeliers, reinforced stereotypes of Algerian criminality while attempting to regulate migration. The study reveals that police efforts to control movement between these North African neighborhoods and France inadvertently perpetuated the very criminalized communities they sought to manage. This dynamic emerged post-World War I, as circular migration—both legal and illicit—between Algiers and Marseille became entrenched, shaped by pseudoscientific discourses and colonial narratives about Algerian deviance.
Criminalizing the Casbahs
French policing in Marseille and Algiers during the colonial era mapped racialized perceptions of North African criminality onto urban spaces, particularly the Casbahs. This study reveals how police practices reinforced discriminatory control under the guise of colorblind justice, blending political repression with personal violence. The research traces these patterns through local yet interconnected histories, exposing their lasting impact on post-colonial policing and contemporary debates over police accountability in France.
Cultural and Bioclimatic Insights from the Vernacular Architecture of the Casbah of Algiers: A Model for Sustainable Future
The Casbah of Algiers, a UNESCO World Heritage site, demonstrates the enduring value of vernacular architecture in addressing bioclimatic challenges while fostering cultural resilience. Research reveals that traditional construction techniques—such as compact urban morphology, shaded courtyards, and thick masonry walls—effectively provide passive cooling, reduce energy dependence, and enhance social cohesion. These features, adapted from Mediterranean design principles, offer a sustainable model for contemporary urban planning. The study combines on-site observations, photographic documentation, and socio-cultural analysis to highlight the architecture's adaptive potential, advocating its integration into modern designs to balance heritage preservation with climate responsiveness.
Introduction. Criminalizing the Casbahs
This research reveals how racialized policing in colonial North Africa, particularly in the Kasbah of Algiers and Rue des Chapeliers in Marseille, shaped the lives of North African subjects. Despite inefficiencies like language barriers and corruption, French police increasingly asserted control over social relations, private spaces, and daily lives by linking race with space, portraying North Africans as inherent criminals and their spaces as zones of danger. This expansion of police power was not inevitable but resulted from specific discourses and practices that criminalized North African communities.
Locating Dangerous Algerians
Historical analysis reveals that policing strategies in Marseille and Algiers, though differing in approach, both contributed to the criminalization of North Africans through targeted surveillance and legal justifications. While Marseille relied on specialized police units and aid services, Algiers employed expansive criminal laws to legitimize broad police powers. Both models fostered paradoxical relationships marked by animosity and dependence, shaped by the îlotier policing style. This study highlights how routine interactions between police and North Africans in areas like the Casbah of Algiers and Rue des Chapeliers expanded state control beyond uniformed officers to include bureaucrats and aid services.
Modeling Urban Morphogenesis at a Macro-Scale Based on Cellular Automata: The Case of the Casbah of Algiers
A novel cellular automata model successfully reproduces the complex, irregular urban morphology of Algiers' historic Casbah, offering insights into the decision-making systems behind traditional Islamic city forms. By integrating topographic data and combining artificial neural networks with logistic regression, the model simulates spatial transitions over time, revealing how morphological constraints shape urban evolution. While limited by historical data resolution and lacking micro-scale dynamics, this flexible framework advances understanding of Islamic urbanism and suggests avenues for future multi-scalar, socio-culturally enriched analyses.
Policing an Empire at War
World War II significantly intensified colonial policing in Marseille and Algiers, reshaping the relationship between police and North Africans. The study reveals that wartime economic pressures, rather than Vichy policy alone, drove increased surveillance, racial profiling, and the creation of transit camps to control labor and movement. In Algiers, divisions between Algerians and Europeans deepened as competition for resources and public space escalated. Notably, the Vichy regime extended its racialized policing tactics to North African Jews, borrowing methods previously used against Muslims. This research highlights how daily policing practices in intimate settings—streets, markets, and neighborhoods—became central to managing scarcity and production demands during the war.
The port of Algiers, a territory of anchorage, exchange, and defense: Reconstruction of the process of its consolidation until 1830
The port of Algiers, a natural harbor pivotal to the city's development, has been reconstructed historically to show its evolution from early anthropization to a fortified urban entity by 1830. This study reveals how the port served as a hub for anchorage, exchange, and defense, shaping Algiers' growth and protecting it against Mediterranean threats. The research employs an exploratory approach, leveraging historical literature and cartography from archives like Simoncas in Spain and France's military engineering fund in Vincennes. It highlights the port's role in the city's capital gain, particularly in relation to its UNESCO-listed historic district, the Casbah. The findings underscore the port's enduring significance as a detached yet integral part of Algiers' urban dynamics.
Towards a Sustainable Algiers: Analyzing Urban Typologies for Sustainable Cities
A balanced urban development strategy that integrates historical contexts with modern advancements can enhance sustainability and livability in Algiers. This study analyzed the distinct sustainability advantages of three architectural typologies—traditional Casbah, 19th-century colonial architecture, and modern structures—using a mixed-method approach combining qualitative field observations and quantitative data from academic sources. The findings highlight how each typology contributes uniquely to social cohesion and citizen well-being, offering critical insights for sustainable urban planning in Algiers.
Vegetal Ornamentation on the Doorframes of the ‘Aziza Palace in Algiers during the Ottoman Era: An Archaeological, Artistic, and Aesthetic Study
The Ottoman era marked the pinnacle of vegetal ornamentation in Islamic art, characterized by its refinement and sophistication, particularly evident in the Maghreb region. This study reveals that the 'Aziza Palace in Algiers' Kasbah exemplifies this artistic flourishing, showcasing intricate doorframe decorations that blend Persian, Chinese, Seljuk, and European influences. The research employs archaeological, artistic, and aesthetic analysis to demonstrate how vegetal ornamentation evolved into a highly stylized form, moving away from naturalistic representation while retaining its symbolic significance. By examining these decorative elements, the study highlights the Ottoman period's role in shaping Islamic art's most prosperous phase.
From the traditional ottoman house to the apartment building in the Kasbah of Algiers: Adaptations and typological mutations
A study of the Kasbah of Algiers reveals that colonial interventions during French occupation led to the emergence of two distinct types of housing: rental shared houses, which replicated Ottoman typology, and apartment buildings, which introduced significant modifications while retaining a central spatial organization. This research, based on an analysis of 180 houses in the historic core, demonstrates how the interaction between Ottoman and colonial architectures resulted in hybrid forms that blended traditional and colonial elements. The findings highlight the evolutionary process of housing typologies, marked by changes in spatial organization, construction techniques, materials, and ornamentation.
Images du bonheur dans Sections of a Happy Moment (2007) et The Algiers’ Sections of a Happy Moment (2008) de David Claerbout
David Claerbout's videos, 'Sections of a Happy Moment' (2007) and 'The Algiers’ Sections of a Happy Moment' (2008), explore the representation of happiness through innovative visual techniques. These works blend static images from studio portraits with real-life scenes, creating an illusion of multiple perspectives capturing a single moment. Set against the backdrop of Algiers' Kasbah, one video depicts an Asian family playing while the other shows men feeding seagulls on a rooftop. The videos employ a slow, looping format in black and white, accompanied by sparse piano or guitar notes, which enhances their meditative quality. The study analyzes how these elements—drawing from photography and surveillance imagery—reflect the temporal rhythm associated with happiness while considering the architectural context of the Kasbah.
Intangible Heritage and Local Development the Case of the Casbah of Algiers
The Casbah of Algiers serves as a powerful example of how intangible heritage can drive both cultural preservation and economic growth. A study employing the contingent valuation method quantified the economic value of this heritage, revealing its significant potential to boost sustainable tourism and local development. The research highlights that strategic interventions—such as awareness campaigns, stakeholder collaboration, and targeted marketing—can enhance conservation efforts while fostering economic prosperity without compromising cultural integrity.
Investigating the transient conditions of “Sabat” space and its influence on pedestrian sensations during thermal walks. Algiers’ Casbah case study
A study on the Kasbah of Algiers reveals that traditional 'Sabat' spaces, with their lift-up design providing cool shade and ventilation, significantly reduce pedestrian fatigue during uphill thermal walks. The research demonstrates a strong correlation (r = 0.504, p < 0.001) between these transient thermal conditions and improved walking comfort, even under hot weather. This finding underscores the potential of integrating 'Sabat' designs into modern urban planning to enhance resilience against climate change impacts on walkability. The study employed thermal walks in temperate and hot conditions to assess pedestrian sensations, offering insights for future implementation of such designs in cities worldwide.
Le Corbusier and Algiers
Rapid industrialization under French colonization dramatically transformed Algiers, the capital of North Africa, within decades. The city's configuration became emblematic of colonial power dynamics, with the densely populated and impoverished alleyways of the Casbah starkly contrasting the wide modern boulevards of the European district. This study examines how Le Corbusier's urban planning principles influenced Algiers' transformation, reflecting broader colonial impacts on Algerian society and culture.
Management of Emergency Measures Project of Algiers’s Kasbah
Emergency conservation projects for Algiers' Kasbah, part of the Permanent Plan for Safeguarding and Enhancement (PPSMVSS), have faced significant challenges due to inefficiencies in management and stakeholder interactions. Despite efforts to mitigate deterioration, many projects remain incomplete or unfinished, highlighting a critical gap in Algeria's heritage safeguarding practices. The study employed a mixed-methods approach—combining on-site surveys, interviews, and questionnaires with stakeholders—to evaluate project success factors using Pinto and Slevin’s conceptual model. Findings underscore the need for improved coordination among stakeholders to achieve desired outcomes in urban heritage conservation.
Decoding the Irregularity in the Casbah Urban Fabric
The irregular urban fabric of Algiers' Casbah emerged from the interplay between natural terrain factors and Islamic legal practices. The study reveals that preemption, inheritance, right of precedence, and endowments (waqf) shaped street morphology, plot layouts, and block structures, creating a unique spatial pattern. Using historical maps and topography, researchers demonstrated how these legal mechanisms evolved into social practices, interacting with natural elements like terrain orientation and waterways to form the Casbah's distinctive urban fabric. This finding offers valuable insights for architecture and urban planning students seeking to understand the construction of such complex urban environments.
Gendered Spaces in Colonial Algiers [1996]
In colonial Algiers, the Kasbah's architectural design reflected complex gender dynamics, serving as both a physical and symbolic space for women. However, during periods of violent conflict, such as the anti-colonial struggle, these gendered spaces were disrupted by external forces like French troops and guerrilla fighters. Zeynep Çelik's analysis reveals that while the Kasbah was purposefully designed to distribute female domestic space as semi-public, its stability was not guaranteed, highlighting the fluidity of urban form under colonial and postcolonial pressures.
Impact of legislative precision in the management of the Casbah
Legislative precision significantly impacts the preservation of Algiers' historic Casbah, but enforcement challenges persist. The study reveals that while Algerian Law n°98–04 and the PPSMVSS framework have clarified heritage management roles and introduced new protection tools, their application has faced delays due to contradictions between legal provisions and conservation plans. These inconsistencies have contributed to the ongoing degradation of the site. The research analyzes these discrepancies to identify root causes and proposes actionable solutions for Algerian authorities to improve preservation outcomes.
Investigating The Transient Thermal Aeraulic Conditions of The ‘Sabat’ Space in Traditional Mediterranean Cities
Traditional 'Sabat' spaces in Mediterranean cities, such as Algiers' Casbah, demonstrate significant potential for generating transient thermal aeraulic conditions that can mitigate prolonged heat exposure and enhance pedestrian comfort. Research findings indicate that Sabat spaces, characterized by shade and strategic wind channeling, create distinct microclimates with lower air temperatures, mean radiant temperatures, and relative humidity compared to non-covered areas. Wind speed variations were particularly pronounced, highlighting the importance of spatial transitions in abrupt thermal changes. These insights, derived from a novel 'thermal walk' method combining dynamic pedestrian sensations with mobile micrometeorological measurements, contribute to understanding traditional sustainable urban devices like Sabat. The study, conducted during warm winter conditions, underscores their role in fostering restorative walking experiences and offers valuable implications for climate-resilient urban design.
Requalification of urban identity according to the history of the place: the Kasbah of Algiers
A novel approach to urban heritage conservation, rooted in the historical narrative of a place, demonstrates how the integration of new elements can enhance the cultural identity of historic sites without compromising their authenticity. This method, applied to the Kasbah of Algiersshows that leveraging the site's layered history and employing contemporary technologies can preserve its old substance while introducing modern functionalities. The approach emphasizes distinguishing between the old and new, ensuring respect for historical integrity while fostering dynamic cultural expressions. This strategy offers a global model for urban heritage valorization, balancing preservation with innovation.
The Heritage Atmosphere to the Test of Appropriation : Case of the Kasbah of Algiers
A deep historical heritage, such as that of the Kasbah of Algiers, can significantly enhance ambient interactions and foster strong community appropriation. This study reveals that preserving a site's historical depth reactivates the interplay between its environmental and human dimensions, potentially leading to local engagement. The research employed a co-construction approach, combining the theory of heritage atmospheres with the concept of appropriation. Conducted in situ at the Kasbah, it utilized guided commentated walks alongside other investigative tools to explore how residents perceive and engage with this historic site.
Quantification of Outdoor Thermal Comfort Levels under Sea Breeze in the Historical City Fabric: The Case of Algiers Casbah
A study of Algiers Casbah reveals significant variations in outdoor thermal comfort within its historic urban fabric, particularly under sea breeze conditions. The research found that collapsed buildings and the sky view factor substantially impact mean radiant temperature (Tmrt) and physiological equivalent temperature (PET), leading to high heat stress levels, especially during hot hours. Notably, PET differences reached 3.7 °C in January and 2.2 °C in August between subspaces. The findings underscore the need for targeted urban rehabilitation strategies to mitigate heat stress while preserving heritage integrity.
Surface Damage Identification for Heritage Site Protection: A Mobile Crowd-sensing Solution Based on Deep Learning
A deep learning-based crowd-sensing solution demonstrates high accuracy (86.8% precision, 84% recall) in automatically identifying surface damage on heritage walls, addressing the inefficiencies of manual inspection methods. The study, conducted at Algiers' Kasbah, trained a MobileNetV2 CNN to detect efflorescence, spall, cracks, and mold using annotated images, with results showing effectiveness even with low-resolution inputs. This approach enables real-time, participatory damage detection via a mobile app, offering a scalable tool for heritage preservation.
The Nineteenth-Century La Lyre Market Hall in Algiers
La Lyre Market Hall, introduced by French colonial powers in Algiers during the 19th century, stands as a resilient urban node and architectural landmark. Its strategic location, connecting Algiers' colonial urban fabric with the historic Casbah and Mediterranean port, has ensured its continuous operation despite neglect. The market's Haussmanian planning method of 'percement,' which pierced the organic urban fabric with straight street geometries, and its cast-iron structure reminiscent of Paris's Les Halles Centrales, highlight its historical and industrial heritage value. This study underscores La Lyre Market's significance in local collective memory and recommends raising stakeholder awareness to rehabilitate and restore its original architectural spaces, preserving their functional, environmental, and experiential qualities.
The UNESCO site of the Casbah in the Master Plan of Algiers (PDAU): between heritage requirements and the need for coordination
A critical analysis of Algiers' Master Plan (PDAU) reveals significant gaps and contradictions between heritage safeguarding measures for the UNESCO-listed Casbah and urban development goals, threatening its reintegration into the metropolis. The study finds that while the PDAU proposes morphological solutions to protect the historic site, these lack proper coordination with the safeguarding plan, risking fragmented conservation efforts. An integrated approach is proposed as essential to reconcile heritage preservation with urban dynamics, ensuring the Casbah's sustainable reconnection to Algiers' agglomeration.
Assessment process in the delimitation of historic urban landscape of Algiers by AHP
A novel approach to delimiting the historic urban landscape of Algiers, using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) combined with GIS, reveals that spatial boundaries are crucial for preserving the landscape's beauty and connectivity. The study highlights how fragmentation threatens the integrity of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, emphasizing the need to integrate landscape considerations into urban planning decisions. By assessing multiple delimitation alternatives, researchers identified distinctive landscapes that diverge from the original historic context, particularly around the Kasbah. This method offers a practical framework for managing landscape values and ensuring their interaction across boundaries, thereby informing conservation strategies.
Decoding the Spatial Configuration of the Ottoman Palace “Khdewedj El Amia” in Algiers (Algeria) through Space Syntax
The Ottoman palace 'Khdewedj El Amia' in Algiers, part of the UNESCO-listed Kasbah of Algiers, reveals a dual spatial configuration through advanced space syntax analysis. The study found that the palace is divided into two distinct entities: one serving as a public interface between residents and outsiders, and another housing the private harem of the blind princess, isolated from external access. This division reflects the socio-cultural norms and architectural ingenuity of the time, blending Islamic Sharia principles with Berber-Arab traditions and climatic adaptations. The research employed visibility graph analysis (VGA) via Depthmap tool and quantitative graph analysis using Agraph to decode how vernacular architecture shapes spatial perception and movement, offering insights into the social logic underlying Ottoman palace design.
Features of historical developmentof the urban environment of the city of Algiers in the period 1830-1962
Between 1830 and 1962, Algiers underwent dramatic urban transformation under French colonial rule, resulting in irreversible alterations to its historic fabric. The study reveals that while new districts were built outside the Ottoman fortifications following European architectural trends, construction within the Kasbah—Algiers' 'White City'—led to significant loss of its original urban environment. This period saw profound social, economic, and spatial changes, reshaping Algiers from a traditional Mediterranean city into a modern colonial capital.
The architectural experience of the Kasbah of Algiers: Insights from le Corbusier’s experience and neuroarchitecture
The Kasbah of Algiers evokes profound emotional engagement through its dynamic spatial and atmospheric properties, as revealed by a neuro-phenomenological analysis rooted in Le Corbusier's experience. Key elements—curved street contours, harmonic colors, panoramic sea views, human-scale proportions, height-light contrasts, and navigational walking routes—interact to shape perception, blending physical and cognitive-affective dimensions. This study pioneers an assessment tool that decodes personal architectural experiences, demonstrating how prior knowledge and aspirations integrate with spatial attributes to influence emotional responses. By leveraging text-based analysis of Le Corbusier's observations, the research uncovers the Kasbah as a complex network of interconnected elements that stir both cognitive and sensory reactions.
Evaluating the Ability of Local Municipalities to Promote Strong Brand Image in Algerian Cities
A novel model has been developed to assess and classify the ability of local municipalities to promote a strong brand image for tourist destinations, with a focus on the Kasbah of Algiers. The study highlights that the Kasbah is uniquely positioned among Algerian cities to effectively develop and sustain a positive brand image, serving as a decision-making tool for policymakers in developing countries. This model leverages multi-attribute analysis (MVAT) using data from the Bay of Algiers, offering flexibility for future improvements but acknowledging limitations due to insufficient information. The research underscores the importance of aligning brand development with local contexts and engaging citizens in the process to ensure authenticity and sustainability.
From Point Cloud to HBIM to FEA, the Case of a Vernacular Architecture
A groundbreaking application of 3D laser scanning and advanced modeling techniques on vernacular architecture within the UNESCO-listed Kasbah of Algiers demonstrates significant potential for heritage preservation. The study successfully transitioned from point cloud data to detailed 3D numerical models, enabling comprehensive structural, archaeological, and thermal analyses through Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Non-Uniform Rational Basis Spline (NURBS)-based software. This approach facilitates interdisciplinary collaboration among architects, conservators, and engineers, ensuring coherent and effective interventions in high-vulnerability seismic zones. The research highlights the transformative role of digital tools in preserving cultural heritage while addressing complex structural challenges.
Man's Emotional Responses and Wellbeing in theKasbah of Algiers
A study on the Kasbah of Algiers reveals that positive emotional responses—such as joy, admiration, surprise, awe, and optimism—enhance user comfort, satisfaction, and well-being. These emotions are closely tied to specific spatial stimuli within the site, including terraces with sea views, sunlit alleys, and transitions between dark and open spaces, such as the shift from covered impasses to light-filled patios or terraces. The research involved 10 architects who documented their spontaneous emotional reactions while navigating the Kasbah's alleys, with findings analyzed using Plutchik's emotional framework. This highlights the significance of architectural design in fostering positive human experiences and urban well-being.
Mapping Mosques of Old Algiers Before the French Colonial Demolitions: Through Albert Devoulx Manuscript (1870)
A precolonial map of Algiers' Casbah, reconstructed from an 1870 manuscript by Albert Devoulx, reveals the extent of French colonial demolition. Of the 167 religious buildings documented before French occupation, only 47 remained by Devoulx's time. This study combines historical manuscripts, military sketches, and literature with modern georeferencing techniques (using ARC-GIS 10.6) to overlay past data on current satellite imagery. The findings shed light on the Casbah's urban transformation, offering insights into colonial historiography while raising awareness about its architectural heritage.
Towards a Better Knowledge of Traditional Environmental Devices: Comparison Between Two Traditional Algerian Houses
A comparative analysis of two traditional Algerian houses—one from the Algiers Kasbah and another from the M’zab valley—reveals how these structures adapt their environmental devices, such as patios and terraces, to vastly different geo-climatic conditions. The study demonstrates that while both house types share a common typology ('house with wasted dar'), their design principles and materials diverge significantly in response to local climate and urban layout. This adaptation highlights the potential for integrating vernacular solutions into contemporary sustainable architecture, provided their performance is better understood and optimized.
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