Search for identity in the process of new architectural design in changing historical city Centre of Setif, Algeria
Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development
ISSN: 2044-1266
Article publication date: 20 October 2021
Issue publication date: 23 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the involvement of the concept of city identity in the design process of urban densification and outline how can today's urban projects be able to reinforce the delicate balance between conservation, development management and sustainability objectives.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on case study approach, this paper focus on “Park Mall and Four Point Hotel” project, located in the historic city centre of Setif (Algeria) and takes the procedure of designing as its conceptual framework. Following this, it explores genesis document of the project and assesses architect's choices attributed to six elements of architectural language. These elements are apprehended regarding their relevance, which depends on whether the new building is or not compatible/integrated with the existing environment, and how far does it reinvent the modern vision.
Findings
The paper provides empirical insight about how the concept of identity is used during the design process of densification project. It argues that this latter consists on a dynamic process shaped by cultural, socioeconomic and institutional specificities applying local/global design precedents, multifunctionality concept and novel features in a tourism-oriented mindset and to still maintain and improve the specific identity of the city centre, thus becoming an active way to reconcile conservation, sustainability and development management objectives.
Originality/value
This paper raises discussion on how the concept of city identity could renew the field of heritage conservation and development management. Therefore, it fulfils an identified need to study how can urban projects reconcile conservation, development management and sustainability objectives.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank « Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et de l’École normale supérieure (UMR 8132 CNRS / ENS », especially « Institut des textes et manuscrits modernes » (ITEM) staff Aurel Crasson, for facilating field studies in (ITEM) Institute, Pierre Marc de Biasi for his help with data collection and genesis analysis methods. Finally, the authors are thankful for the financial support of 2019’s Internship abroad grant, Earth sciences and Architecture Institute, Department of Architecture, Ferhat Abbas Setif 1 University, Algeria.
Citation
Rania, M. and Hamza, Z. (2023), "Search for identity in the process of new architectural design in changing historical city Centre of Setif, Algeria", Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, Vol. 13 No. 4, pp. 728-742. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCHMSD-09-2020-0143
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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