Characterization of the urban structure, of the medina of Bou-Saada in Algeria, syntactic approach.

Abstract

The medina of Bou-Saada undergoes progressive degradation. Its urban fabric does not have the capacity to follow the urban dynamics of the city. The ambition of this study is to allow to acquire a deeper knowledge on the reasons for its dysfunction. The method used in this study is spatial syntax, and specifically, the angular segment analysis. The results found two types of urban structures. Which undergo two different aspects of degradation of the traditional built environment, either by the conversion of several traditional dwellings into places of commerce or services, total or partial renovation, for the first type, or an advanced state of disrepair, and a big abandonment of the place, for the second. We have found that the characterization of the urban structure is essential to carry out any intervention at the level of the historic centers, in order to assign more precise values to the places.