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The M’Zab valley (Algeria) is known for its historic ksours which are of exceptional architectural and landscape character, a heritage that has maintained its integrity and homogeneity for centuries through the establishment of a construction ʻorf. A set of rules have been developped over time and accrued experience in the architectural design of Ksours. This ʻorf relies in its application on an institution termed the oumanas. This institution ensures its transmission, evolution and its application in the field. This paper presents this institution, its organization, its financing, and its role in the management of traditional building in the M’Zab area.

The spatial distribution of the commercial activities in cities is very important in contemporary urban research and studies. Such inquiry seeks to detect the efficiency and sufficiency in meeting the needs of clients and customers. In this study, the evaluation styles and methods of these activities, distribution patterns, were multiplied and varied between a simple descriptive visual analyses and extending to geographic statistical analysis. This is related to the nature of the data used in the measurement of these phenomena and in the clarification of their role in urbanscape organization. The prime aim of this research focuses on the city of Ghardaia (an Algerian desert city) after it became markedly characterized by the phenomenon of commercial polarization and the multiplicity of population frequency to involving size and varied directions. The study endeavors to recognize the distribution pattern of commercial activities across the urban texture using a variety of statistical indicators, among them: a commercial density indicator, a commercial attraction and concentration indicator, and in addition to employ Kernel analysis to determine the spatial concentration of commercial activities in the Ghardaia cityscape, through multiple types of commercial activities.

Abstract This paper aims to display a promising experience of designing a new community project based on the Mozabit old traditions to found their Ksour (plural of Ksar). The faith and “self-reliance” as ancient customs of the Mozabit society have led the Oases to survive in a hostile Saharan environment. Tafilalt project aims to respect the traditional architecture and values while creating architecture worthy of the sustainable development. The community in Bani Isguen city initiated the project in 1997, planning to create a new neighborhood for Bani Isguen ksar in order to alleviate the housing shortage in the Mzab Valley. The self-help, solidarity and collective work of this community allow low-income households to have access to affordable housing. The methodical approach fulfills a thorough analysis of the different steps concerning the process from the definition to the construction of such a collective project. This quite successful designed project tends to enhance the local urban environment and empower the community ties. A set of guidelines and recommendations are made in order to improve the design process and urban strategies of any alike coming projects. , Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é apresentar uma experiência promissora de criação de um novo projeto comunitário baseado nas antigas tradições mozabitas para fundar seus Ksour. A fé e a “autoconfiança” como costumes antigos da sociedade Mozabita levaram os Oásis a sobreviver em um ambiente hostil do Saara. O projeto Tafilalt visa respeitar a arquitetura e os valores tradicionais, criando uma arquitetura digna do desenvolvimento sustentável. A comunidade na cidade de Bani Isguen iniciou o projeto em 1997, planejando criar um novo bairro para Bani Isguen ksar, a fim de aliviar a escassez de moradias no Vale do Mzab. A autoajuda, a solidariedade e também o trabalho coletivo desta comunidade permitem que as famílias de baixa renda tenham acesso a moradias populares. A abordagem metodológica baseia-se na análise das diferentes etapas do processo, desde a definição do projeto até a construção desse projeto coletivo. Este projeto bem-sucedido foi projetado para melhorar o ambiente urbano local e fortalecer os laços comunitários. Um conjunto de diretrizes e recomendações será feito a fim de melhorar o processo de design e as estratégias urbanas de projetos similares.

Les oasis de la vallée du M’Zab en Algérie, inscrites au patrimoine mondial de l’humanité, présentent une architecture et une morphologie urbaine exceptionnelles. Elles ont légitimement attiré depuis longtemps aussi bien l’attention des voyageurs, que celle des chercheurs et des aménageurs. Une particularité reste cependant largement méconnue : le mode de vie et l’habitat des Mozabites, qui se sont constitués en fonction des variations saisonnières. Aujourd’hui, l’opposition systématique entre la taddart dans les ksour et le akham dans les palmeraies est remise en cause par une urbanisation accélérée, une poussée démographique et un effacement progressif du rythme des saisons dans les déplacements domestiques et urbains. Si aujourd’hui la désignation des deux types d’habitat est toujours d’actualité, qu’en est-il de leurs caractéristiques formelles et de leurs modes d’habiter ? Ce travail se propose d’étudier l’évolution des inscriptions tant physiques que sociales de ces variations saisonnières dans les types d’habitat et la forme urbaine de l’oasis de Beni Isguen, l’une des cinq oasis de la pentapole de la vallée du M’Zab.

Cette thèse a pour cadre géographique la vallée du M’Zab située au nord du Sahara Algérien – à 600 km au sud d’Alger. Occupée initialement par les Mozabites — des Berbères Zénètes relevant religieusement de l’Ibadisme —, la région est surtout connue pour ses ksour historiques, d’un caractère architectural et paysager exceptionnel, classés patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO depuis 1982. La solidarité promue et sanctionnée par des institutions propres aux Mozabites a également contribué à la notoriété du M’Zab. Cette solidarité et des modes d’auto-organisation multiséculaires ont joué un rôle primordial dans la survie du groupe ainsi que dans la création des nouveaux ksour.La construction de ces nouveaux ksour — pensés comme des extensions des cités anciennes — a été entreprise à partir des années 1990. L’idée était 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 qu’y ont joué les institutions sociales traditionnelles mozabites, en particulier la solidarité sociale dont nous avons détaillé les pratiques tant au plan du financement des projets, qu’en ce qui concerne les modalités du choix des bénéficiaires et la réalisation des travaux, sans oublier, évidemment, la gestion des nouveaux ksour après leur occupation. Compte tenu que les attentes et les exigences des bénéficiaires de ces logements étaient nécessairement différentes de celles qui avaient présidées à la construction des anciens ksour — que cela soit en terme de confort matériel ou de façon de vivre —, nous avons été conduite à nous interroger sur la permanence et les mutations qui ont affecté les différentes formes de solidarité sociale qui soutiennent les institutions de la région, institutions garantes de la reproduction de la société mozabite et, donc, de la réussite des “nouveaux ksour “.C’est à travers l’étude des six nouveaux ksour — envisagés essentiellement de façon monographique — que nous tentons de répondre à ces interrogations. Ce travail repose à la fois sur une enquête technique conduite en tant qu’architecte et, surtout, sur des observations anthropologiques et des entretiens dans le cadre d’enquêtes de terrain accomplies en 2014, 2015 et 2016. This thesis is based in the M'Zab Valley located north of the Algerian Sahara - 600 km south of Algiers. Initially occupied by the Mozabites - Zenet Berbers religiously belonging to Ibadism - the region is best known for its historical ksour, of an exceptional architectural and landscape character, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982. The solidarity promoted and sanctioned by Mozabite-specific institutions has also contributed to the reputation of the M'Zab. This solidarity and centuries-old modes of self-organization have played a crucial role in the survival of the group as well as in the creation of the new ksour.The construction of these new ksour - designed as extensions of the old cities - was started in the 1990s. The idea was to find a solution to the housing crisis in both quantitative and qualitative terms. The particularity of these projects lies in the role played by traditional Mozabite social institutions, in particular social solidarity, of which we have detailed the practices both in terms of project financing and in terms of the methods used to select beneficiaries and carry out the work, without forgetting, of course, the management of the new ksour after their occupation. Given that the expectations and demands of the beneficiaries of these structures were necessarily different from those that had presided over the construction of the old ksour - whether in terms of material comfort or way of life - we were led to question the permanence and the mutations that have affected the various forms of social solidarity that support the region's institutions, institutions that guarantee the reproduction of Mozabite society and, therefore, the success of the "new ksour".It is through the study of the six new ksour - essentially considered in a monographic way - that we attempt answering these questions. This work is based on both a technical survey conducted as an architect and, more importantly, on anthropological observations and interviews as part of field surveys conducted in 2014, 2015 and 2016.