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In old Muslim cities, community-based and individual building practices have long shaped the urban environment. These practices express the socio-cultural principles and values that historically guided urban formation and, thus constitute a key component of their intangible heritage. Yet contemporary preservation policies tend to prioritize the protection of physical urban fabrics, a fact that often overshadows the intangible dimensions that gave meaning and coherence to the urban environment. This paper argues that safeguarding the tangible heritage of old cities must thus be accompanied by the recognition and promotion of this intangible logic. It highlights the interactive and causal relationship between these two dimensions of heritage, with a geographic focus on North African cities. The study aims to contribute academically by articulating an Islamic perspective on urban form, and professionally by suggesting ways to refine current preservation policies through a more balanced integration of tangible and intangible values.

In the contemporary era of rapid technological development, many regions continue to adopt development approaches rooted in local knowledge, cultural traditions, and community capacities. These contexts show that sustainability does not necessarily rely on advanced technologies but can emerge from locally adapted practices integrating environmental awareness, social organization, and cultural heritage,this study shows different perspectives of vernacular practices . Ksar Tafilelt Tajdit in Ghardaïa, Algeria, represents a notable example of community-led vernacular development within a Saharan oasis environment. Initiated by the Mozabite Ibadi community through the Amidoul Foundation and based on touiza (collective labor), the project ensured strong community participation in planning and construction. This study highlights also as Ksar Tafilelt as a vernacular model while offering a different perspective on how vernacular practices can contribute to contemporary sustainable development.

Traditional M’zab houses in hot, arid climates utilise compact courtyards and small windows for privacy and thermal comfort, but this limits daylight penetration. Despite prior studies, no simulation-based quantitative analysis has been conducted to improve this balance in M’zab dwellings. This study fills that gap by conducting the first M’zab-specific daylight-thermal parametric analysis using DesignBuilder, focusing on three representative plans in Ghardaïa, Algeria, under peak July conditions. The analysis examines the effects of varying WWRs (25–100%) and courtyard size (∼1.5 × 1.5 m to 3 × 5 m) across four orientations. Results show that south-facing glazing provides the most daylight but increases cooling demand and solar gains. East-west window enlargements improve daylight slightly but worsen cooling due to higher solar exposure. Enlarging the courtyard boosts daylight by up to 75% while maintaining thermal comfort. The study recommends courtyard enlargement, shaded south glazing, and avoiding east–west window increases for climate-responsive renovations in hot-arid regions.

Historic earthen settlements in the M’zab Valley face increasing risks due to material decay, climate stress and limited maintenance resources. This paper proposes an HBIM-based workflow designed to support sustainable conservation and decision-making for these UNESCO-listed ksour. The study combines photogrammetric surveying, parametric reconstruction and condition assessment within a single digital environment. The resulting HBIM model integrates geometric accuracy, material characterisation and a lightweight asset-management structure that links deterioration patterns with priority actions. The approach demonstrates how digital documentation can move beyond visualization to become a practical tool for preventive conservation, especially in arid climates where earthen architecture is highly vulnerable. The paper highlights methodological constraints, data gaps and local capacity needs, and offers recommendations for scalable implementation by heritage managers. The proposed workflow aims to improve long-term stewardship through accessible, interoperable and context-adapted digital practices.

This study aims to highlight the importance of the Mozabite heritage in southern Algeria, in terms of its characteristics and features. This includes tangible heritage such as fortified cities (ksour) and towns with their Islamic architectural style, as well as manifestations of intangible heritage found in the customs and traditions that distinguish the Mozabite community and which it has preserved since ancient times. The study concludes that the Mozabite society has remained cohesive through the customs and traditions of their forefathers, passed down through generations. The community has continued to uphold its spiritual and social values to this day. Additionally, some of the ksour in the M‟zab Valley have maintained their architectural style. However, natural and human factors have begun to threaten the integrity of this tangible heritage, making it necessary for the state to intervene in order to restore and protect these ksour from disappearing, as they represent a shared human heritage.

Understanding intimacy within a habitat is crucial to deciphering its human and social dynamics. Human habitation's conceptual and poetic content inspires both the creation and philosophical thinking of societies. Heidegger connected art, space, and architecture of human habitation by responding to the aspirations of their inhabitants. In this sense, private life constitutes a boundary between private and public family life. In Islamic architecture, this sustainable concept is intergenerational, translating sensory experiences into spatial design. We aim to quantify this concept by comparing Islamic and modern architecture. By integrating ophthalmology calculations, those of J. Panero and M. Zelnik, and the interpersonal communication thresholds of Hall and Moore, we calculated the dynamics of spatial and superficial intimacy based on gender. Differences have been observed between Mozabite Islamic architecture in Algeria, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and modern architecture. According to Shannon and Weaver, the information is coded messages and measurable quantities. The internalization or exteriorization of intimacy is essential to understand its vernacular or modern typology. The resonance of gender frequencies undoubtedly forms the basis of a relatively effective strategy for protecting privacy within human habitats. This approach facilitated the development of a sensory imprint for the opulent vernacular Islamic habitat of M'Zab.

Cette proposition a pour cadre géographique la vallée du M’Zab, au Sahara algérien, occupée initialement par les Mozabites. La région est connue pour ses ksour historiques, au caractère architectural et paysager exceptionnel, ainsi que par des institutions propres, promouvant une auto-organisation multiséculaire et une forte solidarité sociale, qui ont joué un rôle primordial dans la survie du groupe et dans la création de « nouveaux ksour ». Les nouveaux ksour – des extensions nommées en analogie avec les ksour historiques, puisqu’ils s’en inspirent – sont des extensions urbaines dont la construction a été entreprise à partir des années 1990. L’idée était née au sein de la communauté elle-même, promue et soutenue par les notables. Il s’agissait de trouver une solution à la crise du logement aussi bien au plan quantitatif que qualitatif. La particularité de ces projets réside dans le rôle joué par la communauté et la solidarité sociale depuis la naissance de l’idée, le choix de la population, la conception des projets, la gestion du chantier, les montages financiers, jusqu’à la gestion du projet après son occupation. L’idée est donc de revenir sur la façon dont une communauté (avec ses institutions traditionnelles) a pu répondre à un besoin (le logement) qui est à la base parmi les prérogatives de l’État ? En mettant en place quels dispositifs, et en engageant quels compromis ?

As a sociocultural product, the home is shaped by specific sociocultural norms and values. Economic development and modernisation have significantly affected the architecture of many Muslim homes, resulting in a disconnection from Islamic culture. This paper explores two sociocultural factors in Muslim housing: privacy and gender segregation. The analysis highlights how the principles of traditional Islamic architecture are still woven into contemporary designs, using Ksar Tafilelt in Algeria as a case study. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that the Mozabite house in Ksar Tafilelt continues to uphold the social customs and religious beliefs of its residents despite the influences of modernisation. Through fieldwork and comparative analysis, both the traditional house in the original Mozabite settlement and the contemporary house in Ksar Tafilelt are examined in terms of user zones rather than functional zones. This approach investigates how these homes uphold traditional Mozabite architectural patterns while accommodating contemporary comfort needs. The study methodology also includes a combination of questionnaires and interviews conducted with a sample of 70 residents from Ksar Tafilelt. The findings reveal factors that have enabled the Mozabite community to maintain its Islamic identity. They also emphasise a notably conservative, family-oriented culture, which is reflected in the organisation of household spaces. This research study highlights the significance of involving the community in housing projects and comprehending the sociocultural principles of the local population throughout the construction process.

بلام مفتوحة وعين ساكنة ولام مكسورة بمد خفيف، لفظ أمازيغي مزابي. فضاء معماري في الطابق الأوّل من البيت المزابي له مدخلان؛ أحدهما من داخل البيت، والآخر يكون إمّا من خارجه بجانب المدخل الرئيس للبيت، أو من السقيفة بعد المدخل الرئيس مباشرة، وبه نافذة تطل على الشارع. وهو مجال خاص بربِّ البيت، حيث يستقبل فيه ضيوفه من الرجال، تسهيلاً لإقامتهم في راحة بعيداً عن أهل البيت. كما يستغله أيضاً للقيام ببعض أعماله الخاصة.