On-site Technical Review Report-200 Housing Units, Wilad Djallal, Algeria

This public housing project comprises two hundred units in Wilad Djallal town, located in the south-western part of the Biskra region in east-central Algeria. It is set in a mountainous desert area, characterized by scattered settlements and small villages, and serves a wide variety of middle-class families. The project as it was finally realized is the result of collaborative efforts between the architects and the local authority. With the clear aim of being responsive to the culture and environment of the region, the design and construction were developed over a period of more than ten years, based on social studies and surveys and a strong awareness of regional identity. During the course of the project, similar housing developments were built in the region by the same architects, employing the same technology, and adopting the same design features. The technology incorporates local construction techniques into standardized modern modes of construction. Through sensitivity to the climate and to the cultural traditions of the inhabitants, the reinterpretation of socio-spatial needs into a built form for public housing has resulted in a residential environment that is both functional and efficient.