The Role of Traditional Know-how in Sustaining Urban Environments: the Casbah of Algiers in Algeria

Abstract

Planning a sustainable development of our cities implies accounting for an adequate preservation of their cultural heritage. These preservation strategies cannot, however, be successful without the adequate integration of local knowhow practices. The main argument of this paper is that some artifacts such as domes or vaults have strongly contributed to the identity of some landscapes such as the Casbah of Algiers. Beyond their symbolic dimension, these elements have exploited local materials and traditional building techniques. These parameters could themselves constitute a part of our cultural intangible heritage. Analyzing these elements and the related know-how would not only help in the conservation and valorization of these historical artifacts but would also help towards the transmission of these practices and resources to the next generation. In this sense, the present article aims at enlightening the vernacular construction techniques of domes in the Casbah of Algiers. It summarises some of the findings of a doctorate research on the strengths and weaknesses of these traditional building techniques in terms of engineering principles and use of materials. This would help assessing how traditional techniques can best be used and adapted under contemporary conditions.