Conference Presentations by Khalil BOUHADJAR
World Sustainable Building Conference (WSB 14) Proceedings, 2014
The public space is a key element of the urban environment and its image. The master of its manag... more The public space is a key element of the urban environment and its image. The master of its management, its production, its environmental dimension and its urban organization constitute the major challenge of the work on the city within the framework of the requalification of urban spaces. Indeed, public space is essential like a keystone of success of any urban improvement operation carried out in the context of the sustainable development of the city in particular the town of Constantine with its medina, the colonial city then the new town Ali Mendjeli.
Public space with its components: squares, channels of communication: boulevards, avenues, which structure the cities, constitute the background frame making the city perceptible. This urban component allows the orientation, the comprehension of the organization and the functioning of the city. The intervention on the layout, the environmental quality, the treatment… of public spaces, requires an adequate managerial approach.
Transformation of the urban character of Arab Cities since the late last century Proceedings of the International Conference held at German Jordanian University, 2015
To face the requirements of modern era, the current societies try to solve their problems by opti... more To face the requirements of modern era, the current societies try to solve their problems by opting for modernity through the principles of homogenization and standardization. Indeed, accelerated modernization is advocated in all the fields of the life affecting the cultures and identities of people. Modernity threatens the heritage of the past especially that related to the old city and traditional architecture. With their traditional core, the cities of the Arab world are experiencing rapid growth whose design is based on the universal principles of urbanism and architecture giving birth to forms and urban structures which have no relationship with the local culture. With the great sets, their stereotyped constructions, and the standard accompanying facilities, the urbanization of the Arab world is anonymous raising the issue of the identity of the Arab city. Aware of the stake and the importance to assign a national style to the Algerian city which breaks with that of their home country, the French settlers were able to respond to this concern. Drawing on the traditional heritage, the French architects conceived a new style called "neo Moresque" founded on the arabisance of the imported European models. The “neo Moresque" style represents an aesthetic and architectural flowering of a century of interbreeding between the East and occident that constitutes a very rich research topic. It allows to focus on the issue of the patrimony and its conservation. It is necessary to find suitable solutions to the contemporary problems that are related to the country. The "national style" expresses urban and architectural identity of the nation, and its civilizational membership. This Millennium, Constantine with its traditional core, constitutes a case of study which highlights the problematic situation of the Algerian city. The study of this town permits to analyze and discuss the questions related to the fate of the Arab city in particular the Algerian one. It is a question of emphasize the possible ways to identify the ills of the Algerian city and try to bring adequate solutions. In fact, this paper aims to study the city of Constantine trying to think and to find the best manners to exploit the traditional heritage which is unique. This latter can serve as the starting point for contemporary urban and architectural creation. It can constitute a source of inspiration even a solution to the problem of identity and culture related to the Algerian architecture and town planning which struggle to find their way. Today, the true urgency is to establish a new Arab cultural vision that supports while being responsible for its social dimension.
Papers by Khalil BOUHADJAR
New towns in Algeria
Routledge Handbook of Urban Planning in Africa, 2019
Romanian Journal of Geography, Issue N° 65, (01), 2021
As the gate of Africa, Algeria has been the crucible where several conquering peoples successivel... more As the gate of Africa, Algeria has been the crucible where several conquering peoples successively settled. The latter marked the Algerian territory by leaving human settlements constituting a patrimonial richness that contemporary Algeria must safeguard. Constantine is one of the oldest cities of Algeria; it has gone through history by experiencing profound changes in its components, especially its public space. Indeed, each civilization has produced its own public space obeying its policy, its culture, its customs, its way of life, its manner of spatial occupation etc. The superposition or juxtaposition of urban fabrics of different historical periods has given birth to a variety of public spaces. From the old city, to the contemporary one passing through the colonial town, public space was produced according to a particular pattern breaking up with the one that precedes it. What are the characteristics of public space produced by each civilization that Algerian cities have known especially those that have a traditional fabric? As a result, this work aims to determine the morphological and pictorial characteristics of the public spaces of the different historical periods of the city of Constantine. This is why urban analysis is used to know the location, shape, quality of the public space and the role it has played and still plays in the city. The way in which Constantine lost the value of its public space is a question we must understand. This work tries to pinpoint the failings of the making of the current city in order to solve the crisis that these urban elements are going through. The ancient heritage constitutes the basis from which this analysis will find solutions to improve the state of recent public spaces and propose a better design for the future ones. This study aims to reconcile the inhabitants with their city.
Public Spaces in Constantine, Algeria: Between Discourse and Reality
Governing Urban Africa, 2016
After 50 years of independence, Algeria is experiencing great changes in all areas. The state is ... more After 50 years of independence, Algeria is experiencing great changes in all areas. The state is confronted today with the consequences of the political decisions made and actions taken without regard for the reality of urban living and the inhabitants’ real concerns. This chapter attempts to verify the practical implementation of the measures set out in the policy discourse on public spaces and their use. By examining a specific case of a policy focused on urban public spaces, the chapter aims to contribute to the wider debate on the governing of urban Africa. The sociological survey conducted in the field with the inhabitants of Constantine and in its new town Ali Mendjeli tries to determine whether public spaces play a role as places for democratization of political actions. The management, design, participation and use of these areas by the inhabitants constitute the real indicators of governance in Algeria.
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Conference Presentations by Khalil BOUHADJAR
Public space with its components: squares, channels of communication: boulevards, avenues, which structure the cities, constitute the background frame making the city perceptible. This urban component allows the orientation, the comprehension of the organization and the functioning of the city. The intervention on the layout, the environmental quality, the treatment… of public spaces, requires an adequate managerial approach.
Papers by Khalil BOUHADJAR
Public space with its components: squares, channels of communication: boulevards, avenues, which structure the cities, constitute the background frame making the city perceptible. This urban component allows the orientation, the comprehension of the organization and the functioning of the city. The intervention on the layout, the environmental quality, the treatment… of public spaces, requires an adequate managerial approach.