Département Architecture

In 1930, France commemorated the centenary of its occupation of Algeria, marking a significant historical event. On this occasion, prominent public edifices were erected, mainly in the departmental capitals: Algiers, Oran, and Constantine. These structures were accompanied by notable urban enhancements. The aim of this article is to explore the distinctive attributes of these constructions, emphasising the architectural and aesthetic idioms used in their creation. The methodology employed in this study involves a comprehensive examination of archival materials sourced from France and Algeria, as well as the digital library BNF Gallica. By delving into these resources, we aim to uncover the underlying reasons and influences that guided the design and execution of these architectural ventures. The public buildings erected during this period indicate the colonial power's deliberate political agenda, serving as a testament to their strategy of showcasing a modernized Algeria during the centenary celebration. Our analysis sheds light on the intricate interplay between classical and contemporary architectural influences that shaped the Algerian architectural landscape during the centenary celebration. By scrutinising the foremost architectural accomplishments, we can discern how architects and policies converged to define the architectural ethos of this transformative era. A major aspect that emerges from our research is the fusion of traditional design elements with a simplified and streamlined aesthetic, exemplifying the core essence of these structures. The amalgamation of stylised traditional forms with the elegance of minimalist lines and shapes epitomises the principal characteristics of this architectural production.

The relationship between architecture and faith has always been of great wealth. Faith as a way of life and social memory exercises a decisive influence on the shape of the construction environment. Yet this relationship is rarely analyzed. On a general level, one reason for this deficiency is probably due to the spread of the ideology of modernity. Given that modernity is implicitly secular, it does not prompt to understand faith in its relationship with other phenomena. It is the same for architecture. We believe on the contrary that the construction environment and the cultural aspect must interact and complement each other. When this is not true or only partially true, this results in user dissatisfaction, and refusal to engage and participate in the process of changing that environment. Many authors have tried to show explicitly the influence of Islamic thought on the social organization and the housing as well as the link between housing and identity, but its implications have not always been understood and transmitted concretely. One thing is certain: the ideological-symbolic-metaphoric sphere is the essence of architecture, as are the program requirements: functionality, distributivity, health of the environment and technology of construction. In this contribution we will address the thorny issue of cultural and religious influences on the choice of the morphology of the habitat and its components, and we will try to highlight the interaction between architecture, faith and culture through analysis of a Mediterranean type "House with Patio" as a particular architectural style, which has been enriched through the centuries by different cultures. Although the course of this typology in each of these cultures and at different times has not been the same, this has only strengthened the mission and spirit of the "Patio" until the appropriation of this model by the Arab-Muslim peoples who were able to incorporate the Islamic perception in this space.

In the context of economic globalization, cities and urban territories are at the heart of the challenges of strategies to position themselves in the economic competition and enhance their attractiveness. The territory is perceived as a factor of administrative and territorial innovation. Territorial development policies were strongly convinced that a strong attractiveness of a territory is considered as proof of success, thus it was necessary to attract sources of wealth and job offers, to make people want to come and to stay. How to be attractive? Cities had to put in place real strategies to differentiate themselves and continue to attract visitors. Among these strategies is territorial marketing. Its implementation transforms the ways in which the territories implement their attractiveness policies with a number of actions in the short and medium term to convince the actors and targets of the attractiveness of this territory to invest or reinvest in it. The ability to bring in and / or retain men and business appears now to be a key issue in local development strategies. The main purpose of this paper is to show that territorial marketing is a tool for developing strategies for the attractiveness of territories and cities.

We cannot pretend that this work is the ideal proof of the close relationship between Islamic tourism and sustainable development. But this a theoretical contribution to understand this type of tourism, and a demonstration of how it might be manifest in a practical and physical form.

La regulación urbana normativa es una regulación técnica e higiénica que se refiere esencialmente a los derechos de construcción en el suelo. Concebida según una visión puramente cuantitativa, constituye una reglamentación rígida que se impone como una restricción carente de sentido. Sus disfunciones y fracasos han provocado su rechazo y la aparición de una nueva tendencia: el proyecto urbano. Este concepto se nutrió de los debates teóricos sobre los centros históricos en Italia en torno a los años sesenta. Siguiendo el ejemplo de las ciudades argelinas, Annaba ha sido testigo de la aparición de varios proyectos emblemáticos en los últimos años. Para saber si el enfoque seguido es el de un proyecto urbano, en este trabajo se ha realizado una comparación de la gestión urbana entre Annaba y tres ciudades europeas. Este estudio permite redefinir las herramientas de  planificación urbana existentes para poner en  marcha otras más innovadoras y eficaces.

Una riflessione sulle Guelaa dell'Aures in Algeria.
Un frutto di ricerca bibliografica, era nell'obiettivo di finalizzare la tesi di specializzazione (Maggio 2021) al Politecnico di Milano e continuare gli studi sui granai collettivi del Grande Maghreb e in particolare dell'Algeria

Sommario:

"Au Sahara les récoltes sont conservées soit dans des silos souterrains, soit dans des pièces de la maison servant de greniers; seul le Gourara possède des greniers fortifiés appelés Kasba, qui ressemblent aux Agadir-Guelaa-Gasr des montagnes présahariennes d'Afrique du Nord".
I granai collettivi sono opere significative testimoni di una società (nomada, transumante o sedentaria) agricola sapientemente organizzata per sfruttare le risorse naturali, strutturata per assicurarne la continua riproduzione. Sono costruzioni estese di forma semplice, senza ornamentazioni destinate alle tribù Berbere nel Grande Maghreb, un'architettura vernacolare che utilizzava materiali locali. Rispetta le condizioni climatiche e si adegua alla litologia del terreno, utilizza un sistema di fori nelle pareti per mitigare le variazioni di temperatura e assicurare un'aerazione permanente al fine di conservare i raccolti immagazzinati all'interno del granaio.
È necessario conservare questi monumenti che esibiscono una maestranza essenziale nell'uso dei materiali e nella loro messa in opera. L'attuale collasso delle strutture è dovuto all'abbandono da parte della gente locale e alla successiva mancanza di manutenzione. La loro conservazione comporta il rispetto delle tecniche costruttive con le quali sono stati realizzati.
La tesi affronta il tema dei granai collettivi nel Grande Maghreb, sviluppa in particolare Guelaa Ath Mansour (un granaio collettivo situato nel villaggio di Ghoufi nell'Aures in Algeria), studia dapprima l'aspetto tecnico di questo tipo di costruzione, successivamente individua i fenomeni di degrado e le loro cause, proponendo infine delle possibili soluzioni
per tutelare la Guelaa, sempre nel rispetto delle condizioni ambientali e le tecniche vernacolari locali.

Abstract:

The collective granaries are significant works that bear witness to an agricultural society (nomadic, transhumant, or sedentary) wisely organized to exploit natural resources, structured to ensure continuous reproduction. They are extensive constructions of simple form, without ornamentation, destined for the Berber tribes in the Greater Maghreb, a vernacular architecture that uses local materials. It respects the climatic conditions and adapts to the lithology of the terrain, uses a system of holes in the walls to mitigate temperature variations, and ensures permanent ventilation to preserve the crops stored inside the granary.
It is necessary to conserve these monuments that exhibit essential know-how in the use of materials and their implementation. The current collapse of the structures is due to the abandonment by local people and subsequent lack of maintenance. Their conservation involves respecting the construction techniques with which they were made.
The thesis addresses the issue of collective granaries in the Greater Maghreb, developing, in particular, Guelaa Ath Mansour (a collective granary located in the village of Ghoufi in the Aures in Algeria), at first studying the technical aspect of this type of construction, then identifying the phenomena of degradation and their causes, finally proposing possible solutions to protect the Guelaa, while respecting the environmental conditions and local vernacular techniques.