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ABSTRACT
This paper aims to assess the sustainability potential of Algerian desert Ksour's architectural and urban heritage. It identifies systems aligning with the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), categorized into formal, spatial organization, and architectonic aspects. The approach correlates Ksour's architectural features with SDGs defined by the International Union of Architects, yielding 40 passive features applicable for achieving SDGs. Notably, features like high windows (architectural) and strategic siting (urban) remain relevant for energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction. This research gives us the opportunity to improve our strategies for rehabilitating and adapting built heritage so that it can meet current environmental challenges, but also opens up the possibility in the future of continuing to identify more sustainable systems by extending the study of heritage examples, but also and above all of developing a reflection on the adaptation of these passive systems in the design of contemporary architectural and urban projects.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank all those who contributed to the illustrations in this paper: Betraoui Abdechaker, Bouali Yasmine, Boumama Meriem and Hamza Wissem.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
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Additional information
Notes on contributors
Mohamed Adel Souami
Mohamed Adel Souami He is an architect and teacher-researcher at the Polytechnic School of Architecture and Town Planning in Algiers. He also holds a master's degree on the architectural design process, which he obtained in Tunis, and a doctorate in architecture on the identification of seismo-resistant architectural features of Algiers’ architectural heritage from the colonial period 1830-1930. His current interests and research focus on the preservation of architectural and urban heritage in the face of major risks such as earthquakes, as well as on the management of this heritage from the point of view of environmental issues and climate change. ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8970-739X
Iheb Elhaddad
Iheb Elhaddad Architect & Sustainable Design Advocate. Young Algerian architect with a solid foundation and a relentless pursuit of sustainable architecture. Graduated with distinction and currently pursuing a Master in Interior Design in Paris, augmenting in diverse experiences in prominent architectural firms and luxury retail design in the heart of Paris. Proven track record in marrying aesthetics and functionality. Active participant in architectural competitions, clinching accolades for innovative design solutions. Committed to sustainable practices, blending modernity with cultural sensibilities. Fluent in collaborative teamwork and adept at communicating intricate design ideas. Eager to contribute cross-disciplinary skills to impactful projects.
Sabrina Ferhat
Sabrina Ferhat I'm a second-year Master's student in Urban Planning and Development at Rennes 2 University. I hold a master's degree in architecture from EPAU in Algiers, specializing in environmental and technological aspects, where I worked on the sustainability of the Ksar of Ghardaia with the AARD team. My architectural journey has taught me independence, effective collaboration, clear articulation of ideas, initiative-taking, leadership skills, creativity, precision, communication, and synthesis abilities. I gained practical experience through various internships, including a hands-on role in an architecture consulting firm, where I learned about project constraints and uncertainties. After my initial education, I transitioned to urban planning by enrolling in a Master's program at the University of Rennes 2, focusing on Urban and Real Estate Project Management. This broadened my perspective on urban planning, law, and regulations, preparing me for the practical world of project implementation. I look forward to applying these insights, exploring new methods, and overcoming project challenges in my professional journey.
Hylda Medhouche
Hylda Medhouche She is an architect with a degree in environment and technology from the Polytechnic School of Architecture and Town Planning in Algiers, she also holds a master's degree in research on the sustainability potential of Algeria's vernacular heritage.
Chamsy Mellak
Chamsy Mellak Very manual from my young age, I quickly became interested in art professions, an aspect of myself that I was able to nurture throughout my schooling. Architecture was a natural choice for me for the rest of my university studies. This is how I joined the Polytechnic School of Architecture and Urban Planning of Algiers in 2017. My course at EPAU allowed me to develop a particular interest in the environment and heritage. This is how I decided to follow a Master’s degree in parallel with my architectural studies. This master's degree, entitled « Architecture & Sustainability », aimed to identify the different devices for materializing the 17 objectives of sustainable development, both at the urban and architectural scale of the Algerian Vernacular Architectural Heritage. The world of entrepreneurship immediately appealed to me, I became an active member of the communication and external relations department within the scientific and cultural club of the school ‘Nomad Club’, where I was able to participate in the organization of various events, conferences, competitions and charitable projects. Be part of a sustainable approach, the enhancement of the architectural heritage of my country and my personal development are my priorities for my professional career.
Lynda Nebbache
Lynda Nebbache She is an architect with a degree in environment and technology from the Polytechnic School of Architecture and Town Planning in Algiers, she also holds a master's degree in research on the sustainability potential of Algeria's vernacular heritage.