Creating an inventory for a heritage that holds meaning for its inhabitants: The case of 1950s large housing estates in Oran, Algeria
By Farah Kefif, and Malek Hendel
Heritage primarily serves as a means of establishing one’s identity in connection to others within the same family, facilitating the differentiation between the extraordinary, the remarkable, and the ordinary. The enhancement of the heritage value of the large housing estates has recently been examined globally, emphasising the contextual aspect. This approach seeks to elevate and safeguard modern architectural heritage through various strategies, beginning with the creation of an inventory as an operational tool. This inventory serves as the foundation of a methodological framework, with its core function being the identification and recognition of values. Large housing estates in Algeria emerged from the 1950s onwards, characterised by extensive production of varied architectural, urban, and social typologies extending to the peripheries and centre of Oran. They exemplify contemporary urban design, embodying a vision of communal living and comfort for the maximum number of individuals across many functions. This colonial architectural heritage is insufficiently valued by public authorities, a situation stemming from the entrenchment of expert decision-makers in traditional values. However, alternative approaches suggested by institutional actors are particularly thought-provoking, encouraging the consideration of heritage as a dynamic process aimed at including large housing estates on the heritage list. The main question of this study is whether the issue of creating an inventory system for large housing estates may serve as a tool for determining their destiny. The hypothesis posits that employing a methodology encompassing information collection, intrinsic value recognition, and assessments elements while drawing inspiration from unconventional models can develop an effective inventory model tailored for the 1950s housing estates. This research work is based on the twinning of the quantitative and qualitative approach, and also the observation in situ, executed in the administrative and educational offices, including professionals, institutions, employees, and inhabitants of the large housing estates. We commenced by using the qualitative method, which enabled us to gather as much information as possible in order to recognise the values and then classify the criteria, which is the fundamental stage in any inventory. Several survey tools were considered: consultation of the Algiers and Oran archives, field observation, which shed light on the practices used to appropriate these inherited spaces, semi-directive face-to-face qualitative interviews with professionals in housing and heritage, history, and sociology, and open interviews with inhabitants. The quantitative method was then used to assess the values using criteria previously defined by the heritage and housing specialists and the inhabitants, using a multiple-choice questionnaire, ranking questions, open-ended questions, and image-based questions. We examined Law 98-04 concerning the protection and enhancement of cultural property within the Algerian Ministry of Culture, which was influenced by the decree of 4 March 1964 initiated by André Malraux and André Chastel. Their national inventory system for cultural facilities offered a robust theoretical foundation for the framework proposed in this research. This article aims to identify values and propose a reliable inventory by drawing inspiration from overseas models (France, Canada, Switzerland) to promote the destiny of Algerian’s large housing estates towards a heritage perspective that can serve as a prototype for developing a specific inventory for contextual large housing estates. This study presents a model of a thematic inventory organised into three fundamental sections which can serve as a reference, particularly in the neighbouring countries of the Maghreb which have witnessed the concept of large housing estates. 1. Establishing context: This section must comprehensively portray the building. This is a registration document for the large housing estate, derived from field data and archival material. 2. Physical condition: This section includes alterations to the initial structure, degradation, and integrity of the complex, information about which can alone be provided by the CTC authority (the National Body for Technical Control of Construction) concerning its condition and longevity. 3. Heritage value scores (each score reflecting the degree of each criterion): This section encompasses the magnitude of each determined value, whether tangible or intangible, after the assessment of the established criteria in the area. The study advocates for incorporating inhabitants into the heritage framework as a compelling method for acknowledging and assessing novel criteria, diverging from the materiality of artefacts, termed ‘heritage from below,’ rather than adhering to the institutional heritage referred to as ‘heritage from above.’ This approach has led to the stigmatisation of an architectural heritage rich in value, exemplified by numerous large housing estates designed by esteemed architects and experts, including Georges Candilis. The collaboration and agreement among many stakeholders facilitate the identification and cataloguing of large housing estates, therefore legitimising a novel approach to recognising the architecture of social housing among significant historic assets. Finally, this contribution highlights an offer to compose an inventory for the type of social housing that is the large housing estate, which will make it possible to protect unique, singular works in a good state of conservation and serve to nourish the spirit of architectural and historical knowledge of the work with the aim of making a heritage of its own, a radiance, a legitimacy.
Impact of wind in urban planning: A comparative study of cooling and natural ventilation systems in traditional Iranian architecture across three climatic zones
By Mina Ganjimorad, Jose Duran Fernandez, and Milad Heiranipour
The article titled “Impact of wind in urban planning: A comparative study of cooling and natural ventilation systems in traditional Iranian architecture across three climatic zones” investigates how traditional Iranian architecture utilises wind for passive cooling in three climatic zones: cold and mountainous, hot and dry desert, and moderate and humid northern regions. The study analyses city layouts, building designs, and traditional technologies used to harness wind, comparing how these systems impact indoor air temperatures and overall comfort across different environmental conditions.
Background and rationale
Traditional Iranian architecture is known for its sustainable, passive cooling methods, particularly the use of wind and sunlight to maintain indoor comfort. Unlike modern architecture, which often emphasises aesthetics and relies on energy-intensive technologies, traditional designs in Iran are climate-responsive, leveraging natural elements to regulate temperature. This study aims to apply these traditional methods to inspire modern, sustainable building designs that reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Research focus
The study examines three climatic regions in Iran:
- Moderate and humid northern regions.
- Cold and mountainous regions.
- Hot and dry desert regions.
It focuses on how wind and sunlight shape both urban and architectural forms in these areas. The role of wind, air circulation, and building orientation in creating thermal comfort are explored, providing insights into how traditional designs can be integrated into modern sustainable architecture.
Traditional building characteristics:
– Temperate regions: Airflow is crucial for comfort.
– Cold mountainous regions: Buildings use windbreaks and compact layouts to prevent cold air intrusion and maximise solar gain.
– Desert regions: Windcatchers (badgirs) and courtyards capture cooling breezes and reduce heat absorption.
Methodology
The research covers:
- Case Study Selection: Cities chosen based on their climates.
- Climate Analysis: Focus on wind patterns.
- Urban and Architectural Analysis: Study of urban layout, building materials, roof height, and window orientation.
- Literature Review: Review of climate-responsive architecture.
- Simulation: Energy Plus software used to simulate building thermal performance.
- Site Visits: Direct observations of traditional architecture.
- Modelling and Visualisation: Visual models created to illustrate wind-driven cooling strategies.
Numerical analysis and modelling
EnergyPlus software models the heat dynamics within buildings across three climate types. The findings show that traditional buildings, when designed with climate-specific elements like windcatchers and thick walls, maintain more comfortable indoor temperatures. The research highlights how ancient Iranian architecture, although simple, effectively adapts to its climate and offers valuable insights for modern sustainable design.
Indoor air temperature profiles
Heatmaps and temperature data compare indoor air temperatures across three cities, revealing the efficiency of traditional designs in maintaining thermal comfort. Discrepancies between simulations and real-life measurements suggest the importance of urban layout and construction techniques not fully captured by the models.
Conclusion
The study demonstrates that traditional Iranian architecture effectively utilises wind and sunlight for passive cooling, offering valuable lessons for modern sustainable urban planning. In cold regions, the focus is on insulation and compact layouts of buildings, while in desert areas windcatchers and courtyards are used to cool indoor spaces. By revisiting these traditional methods, architects can design more energy-efficient buildings that align with global sustainability goals, reducing the need for artificial heating and cooling systems.
Urban expansion and heritage threats: Preservation of Mansourah archaelogical site in Tlemcen, Algeria
By Manar Triqui, and Fatima Mazouz
The archaeological site of Mansourah, located southwest of Tlemcen in Algeria, is a significant historical and architectural heritage landmark dating back to the late 13th and early 14th centuries. Originally constructed as a military camp during the siege of Tlemcen by the Merinid dynasty coming from Fez, Mansourah evolved into a fortified city housing religious, military, and economic structures, notably the Mansourah Mosque and its minaret. This site stands as a unique example of medieval Islamic military architecture in North Africa. Although designated as a national heritage site in 1967, Mansourah now faces increasing threats from Tlemcen’s rapid, unregulated urban expansion, particularly through the proliferation of informal housing encroaching upon its surroundings.
This research examines the impact of urban sprawl on the preservation of the Mansourah site by employing a mixed-methods approach – combining historical, architectural, and urban analyses with field surveys conducted between 2021 and 2023. Satellite images from 2003, 2013, and 2023 reveal a steady increase in urban density surrounding Mansourah, especially to the north and east of the site. In these areas, informal construction compromises both the visibility and integrity of Mansourah. Such developments, while violating protection regulations that establish a 200-meter buffer zone around the site, continue to spread despite restrictions.
Interviews with residents living in informal settlements near Mansourah reveal a range of perspectives on the site’s importance. Some residents express an appreciation for Mansourah’s historical and cultural value, seeing it as an asset to the community. Others, however, view conservation policies as restrictive, particularly given the pressing demand for housing and the economic hardships many face. This contrast reflects a broader social and economic issue in Tlemcen, where insufficient urban planning has led to a proliferation of unregulated housing with minimal enforcement of heritage protection laws.
The study also explores the legislative evolution of heritage protection in Algeria, emphasising the 1967 ordinance and the 1998 law that established the protection zone around Mansourah. Despite this legal framework, significant gaps remain in enforcing these regulations, due to either lack of resources or inadequate coordination among local authorities to effectively control unauthorised development. The persistence of informal housing not only detracts from the cultural and historical value of the site but also diminishes its tourism potential, impacting the local economy.
Given these challenges, the article calls for tailored preservation and management measures to protect the Mansourah site. The proposed strategies include developing clear urban planning guidelines that integrate heritage conservation with current development needs, strengthening regulatory oversight of new constructions within the protected zone, and launching public awareness campaigns to foster greater appreciation of Mansourah’s historical significance. Additionally, the study advocates for a participatory approach that involves residents in heritage management, addressing their socioeconomic challenges while promoting the collective preservation of the site.
The research delves into the complex urban and legal challenges surrounding the site, particularly the inadequacies in current protection measures. Despite a regulatory framework —anchored by the Urban Development Plan (PDAU) and the Mansourah Protection and Enhancement Plan (PPMVSA) — there is a lack of coordinated enforcement among local authorities. This gap allows informal housing to expand in protected zones, often obstructing the site’s visibility and compromising its cultural significance. The situation underscores a critical need for clearer urban guidelines and a conservation master plan tailored to Mansourah’s specific context. By fostering collaboration across municipal and cultural agencies, a sustainable preservation strategy could balance Tlemcen’s growth with Mansourah’s historical integrity, aiming to transform the site into a cultural and environmental hub within the city’s urban landscape.
In conclusion, the research emphasises the urgent need for coordinated efforts between heritage conservators, urban planners, and local authorities to shield Mansourah from the pressures of urban sprawl. It advocates for a sustainable urban framework that harmonises the preservation of this invaluable archaeological site with Tlemcen’s development goals, ensuring that Mansourah remains a vital and respected part of the city’s historical landscape.
Impact of temporary conversion on the community: Categorisation and current case studies from Europe
By Karolína Bujdáková, and Alexander Schleicher
In the life cycle of objects and spaces, the function for which they were intended to serve is sometimes prematurely terminated, leaving them empty and unused. In the life cycle of buildings and spaces, the in-between stage, when the space is not fulfilling its original function and is waiting for a new purpose, may not be a limit but on the contrary it may be a potential.
The paper presents a categorisation of conversions based on duration and period of repetition. Based on the categorisation of conversions we describe a combination of two approaches. By combining them we gained a one-time temporary conversion—the subject of our interest. The paper traces the impact of a temporary change in the function of spaces, objects or parts of them, and uses a comparison of case studies to evaluate the different form and degree of impact the intervention has had on the community after the temporary conversion had ceased to exist. The research works with case studies in a European context to trace the impact of temporary architecture on the local community.
The paper follows contemporary case studies of temporary conversions from the 21st century that have been conducted over the last 15 years. In selecting the case studies, the research focuses on the realisations of conversions that meet the conditions of categorisation in terms of duration as temporary conversions, in terms of repetition as conversions performed once, and at the same time, it is possible to track their impacts on the local community after their duration is over. The paper works with three selected case studies from Europe, namely one example from Italy, one from England and one from Slovakia to pursue the impact on the local community once the temporary conversion no longer exists.
The first case study is The Theatre of the useFULL. The project was created on the occasion of the fifteenth Venice Architecture Biennale (2016) and presents the temporary conversion of part of a building into a temporary theatre. The temporary theatre was designed using suspended spring mattresses and insulating panels, cabinets that form a labyrinth leading to the theatre in which benches are made of stacked insulating panels. The choice of materials or elements of which the theatre was composed was not random but based on the list of needs of two local initiatives that deal with the rehabilitation of abandoned social housing and the provision of shelter for homeless people. After the 15th Biennale, the materials and furniture were donated to the aforementioned community-based initiatives and re-used. Thus, this case study presents a temporary conversion that, at its inception, contemplates the consequences of its existence and presents a responsible approach to the awareness of its temporariness and the certainty of its demise, to which it responds in terms of sustainability and, at the same time, in terms of supporting the local community.
The second case study is the Folly for Flyover project. The temporary structure depicted by his house is designed so that the peak of the gabled roof is sandwiched between the east and west lanes of the motorway. The function of the temporary structure was cultural and communal, focusing primarily on performative forms and screenings. The building was designed as a giant building block that allowed volunteers with any level of skill or commitment to participate in its construction which took less than a month. As the temporary installation of Folly neared the end of its duration, it brought an investment to the site that transformed the space under the motorway bridge into a permanent public space that allows for the continued use of the site by the general public and brings a new quality to the local community.
The third case study is the Transformation of the Vazovova-Mýtna intersection. The case study focuses on the transformation of the space adjacent to the Vazovova Primary School in Bratislava. The temporary conversion of a public space at the intersection of two streets involved the demarcation of a space that served as a lane of the road into a public space mindful of children. The original traffic solution offered a relatively generous unused space in the middle of the intersection. During the temporary conversion, the traffic layout and empty space were streamlined, creating a safe, physically defined zone for play and recreation. The temporary conversion was planned by the City to trigger a participatory design process for the future, permanent change of this space, with the greatest consideration for the needs of the local community.
The article highlighted the complexity of the terminological grasp of the issue of conversion changing the function of architecture and indicated the wide possibilities of grasping and interpreting this concept. It focused on a more detailed definition of temporary conversions created for a single use and analysed their impact on the local community by means of case studies. The phenomenon of temporariness in this type of conversion prompts a more intensive reflection on the life cycle of these objects, sustainability, circular economy and the impact on the community. By comparing the case studies, a possible spectrum of approaches to the creation of temporary interventions that have a direct impact on the community was suggested, which makes it possible to conclude that the community aspect of temporary conversions could prolong the life cycle of temporary conversions that may not end in their physical demise.
User satisfaction with aesthetics of urban park seating
By Abdurrahman Mohamed
Urban parks are considered among the most important areas of public space for relaxation and recreation. They are gaining ever more importance in our cities with their continuous physical, social and cultural development. This in addition to their great contribution to the visual beauty and aesthetic tranquillity of the urban environment. With these characteristics, urban parks preserve their distinguished position in the urban structure of cities. As such, there is always a need to pay attention to their planning and design including park furniture and especially seating.
Park furniture is an influential element of the park and seating is the most widely used element that is closely related to the users. The seating is the park’s most widely distributed public facility that has the closest contact with the users. Public open spaces and parks with creative seating design and functionality are more likely to be visited and enjoyed. Park seating is one of the most used elements of parks’ furniture and it creates a great opportunity to enhance their quality through a wide variety of tools like design, style and aesthetics. The design of park seating has revolutionised the way designers use visual design elements and principles to provide unprecedented means of rest, relaxing and gathering for park users.
This research investigates the different demographic (gender, age, and education) and perception factors (aesthetics knowledge and aesthetics understanding) that affect the overall user satisfaction of seating aesthetics in urban parks. The aim is to understand user perception of seating aesthetics. It also aims to understand the different factors affecting this satisfaction and the different relationships between them. Seating in public parks is one of their main furniture elements. Not only does it enhance park functionality and liveability as an element for rest and socialising, but also is considered for its expressive visual beauty and aesthetics components that enhance the visual pleasure and aesthetics satisfaction of the users. Park seating design is a key factor for supporting users’ activities, social interaction and cultural integration. This can be achieved through different strategies and the application of different design principles and aesthetics measures.
The case study which was used for the investigation is the Konyaalti Beach Park (KPB), Antalya, Turkey. The Konyaalti Beach Park is a long public green space at the Mediterranean cost in the district of Konyaalti, Antalya, Turkey. The seating of KBP came with the same level of the innovative solutions of the park furniture provided by the designers and the creative applications of the seating to provide for the required park functions and human activities. At the same time, seating design expresses simplicity with variety and unity to preserve the overall purpose of the beach park.
The aesthetical measures used include colour, materials, placement, symmetry, proximity, and proportion. The methodology depended on the survey of user perception and evaluation of these elements in the seating of KBP. A Likert questionnaire was the tool used for this survey and the SPSS software was used for the statistical analysis of the questionnaire and the testing of hypotheses formulated to lead the investigation which tried to answer the questions of the research: Do demographic factors (gender, age, and education) and perception factors (aesthetics knowledge and aesthetics understanding) affect the overall user satisfaction with seating aesthetics in Konyaalti Beach Park? Does the overall user satisfaction with seating aesthetics in KBP depend on the individual satisfaction with each aesthetics factor?
Satisfaction shows strong statistically significant correlations with education, aesthetics knowledge, and aesthetics understanding. The overall aesthetics image of park seating is more important and influential in affecting the users’ appreciation than the individual visual design elements of the seating. It was discovered that there was no significant difference between the age groups regarding the seating aesthetics satisfaction. Finally, it was found that education is the most important among the demographic factors affecting user satisfaction with park seating while gender and age are not influential. This highlights the need to provide more education on park aesthetics in general and on park seating aesthetics in particular. This also includes raising public awareness about the importance of park aesthetics and park seating aesthetics and their role in improving the quality of our cities.
This research provides a unique opportunity to show the relationships between some of these factors and between them and park users. The research has significant importance in the studying of park seating aesthetics to understand the factors influencing it and the suitable means for its development. The study and analysis of park seating aesthetics is still not a well-known trend in academic and professional fields. The need is increasingly rising for the study, analysis, and development of park seating aesthetics to support the crucial role of parks in the life of people.