ANCIENT TRADITIONAL SETTLEMENTS IN ALGERIA: PENTAPOLIS OF M'ZAB VALLEY

Abstract

Article concerns of the ancient traditional settlements of Algeria. The main attention are payed to the introduction of architecture of M'zab Valley that is a special historical urban phenomenon of Algerian. Article deals with five old historical preserved settlements, so called ksour, that are gathered in the agglomeration of M'zab Valley (so called Pentapolis) in the oasis of Sahara desert. The article is analysing the traditional planning structure and architecture of ksour in urban scale (macro level) pointing special attention to the climate adaptation techniques of building in the severe natural environment of Sahara desert. The Pentapolis of M'zab Valley is unique example of agglomeration where people dwells preserving traditions more than millennium of the years using the same urban infrastructures and buildings. In this point of view, it could be considered like an excellent case for study the harmonization of ancient traditions in the circumstances of modernity by living in the substantiality with environment.