Genotype Syntactic Study of Vernacular Houses in Biskra City

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15320/ICONARP.2021.177

Keywords:

Justified graph, privacy, space syntax, spatial configuration, the vernacular houses

Abstract

Purpose

This paper provides an analysis of the vernacular houses of the city of Biskra, in the

north-eastern Algerian Sahara. The aim is to examine the underlying genotype of the spatial configuration of the city's vernacular house plans and to consider the parameters that influence the domestic arrangement and phenotypic aspects of the house layout.

Design/Methodology/Approach

The investigation relied on space syntax method, by using  j-graph (justified graph) analysis  known as Gamma analysis to examine the functional spaces of a series of fifteen vernacular houses from three neighbourhoods (Bab Dareb, Mcid and Guaddach).  And by using A-graph software to calculate syntactic properties such as MD, by obtaining RA, BDF and SLR, of the houses’ spatial configurations, to detect similarities and differences in the sample. Moreover, to calculate the integration value (RRA) of each space of the same house to compare with those of others houses’ space to determine the structure mode of the domestic interior.  

Findings

The results suggest that there is an organising principle of spatial configuration as there are similarities between the socio-spatial patterns of vernacular houses in the city of Biskra, despite the disparate houses’ interior spatial configuration.

Research Limitations/Implications

Most of the houses were in poor condition, which made the survey difficult. The present did not rely focus on people’s use of internal space .e.  behaviour mapping to detect the actual function of each space. Moreover, had this study taken houses with extremely different layouts and morphologies, and from distant times, would be a better case study to examine the undertaken topic.

 Originality/Value

This study sheds light on the vernacular houses of the city of Biskra that has been extending since the Ottoman period to highlight the main underlying characteristics (genotype) using the theory of the syntax of space. These houses have a symbolic value and are considered as the architectural heritage of the city.  

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Author Biographies

Rihane Barkat, mohamed khider university

Rihane Barkat graduated from Biskra university, Department of Architecture in 2015. She obtained her master's degree in urban projects and PhD (2015) degree on Habitat and Sustainable cities. Her research interest is Domestic Architecture

Yassine Bada

Yassine Bada is a professor at the department of architecture, university of Biskra where he has been a faculty member since1990. His research interests focus space-morphology /people’s behavior relationship, with particular reference to Space Syntax as theory and analysis method.

Yasemin Ince Guney

Yasemin Ince Guney received Bachelors and M.Sc. in Architecture from Middle East Technical University, M.Sc. in Architecture from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and PhD. in Architecture from University of Michigan, USA. She has taught at Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Michigan, Eastern Mediterrenean University North Cyprus and teaching currently at Balikesir University. 

References

Adad, & Zerouala. (2002). Apprendre du passe cas du vieux Biskra. Sciences & Technologie - N°17, 123–132.

B Hillier, J Hanson, H. G. (1987). Ideas are in things: an application of the space syntax method to discovering house genotype. Environment and Planning B, 14, 363–385.

Bellal, T. (2007). Spatial Interface Between Inhabitants and Visitors in M’zab Houses. Proceedings, 6th International Space Syntax Symposium, İstanbul, 2007, 61.1-61.14.

Boutabba, H., Djemoui, B. S., & Mili, M. (2020). Spatial logic of the neo-rural houses of the Msilien Guebla in Algeria. Urbanism. Architecture. Constructions.11(1):35-56

Brown, R., & Maudlin, D. (2011). Concept of Vernacular Architecture. 340–355.

Dovey, Kim. 1999. Framing places: Mediating power in built form. London: Routledge.

Erman, O. (2017). Analysis of the architectura space through the spatial neighborhood concept. Mekansal Komşuluk Kavramı Üzerinden Mimari Mekanın Analizi, Çukurova University Journal of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. 32(1). pp. 165- 176.

Guney, Y. I., & Wineman, J. (2008). The evolving design of 20th-century apartments in Ankara. Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, 35(4), 627–646. https://doi.org/10.1068/b3401

Hanson, J. 1998 Decoding Homes and Houses, Cambridge : Cambridge University Press.

Hillier B and Hanson J (1984) The Social Logic of Space. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https:/doi.org/978052133651.

Hillier, B. 1996 Space is the Machine, Cambridge : Cambridge University Press.

Karim, H. (1993). Vernacular housing forms in north Algeria. TDSR.(5)1. 65-74.

Markus, Tom. 1993. Buildings and power. London: Routledge.

McLane, Y. (2013). Spatial contexts, permeability, and visibility in relation to learning experiences in contemporary academic architecture. Florida State University Libraries . http://diginole.lib.fsu.edu/etd.

Mustafa, F. A. (2016). Spatial Configuration and Functional Efficiency Of House Layouts. LAP.Erbil.

Mustafa, F. A., & Sanusi, A. H. (2010). Using space syntax analysis in detecting privacy: a comparative study of traditional and modern house layouts in Erbil. The 2nd. International Seminar on Tropical Eco-Settlements, 3-5 November .

Ostwald, M. J. (2011). The Mathematics of Spatial Configuration: Revisiting, Revising and Critiquing Justified Plan Graph Theory. Nexus Network Journal, 13(2), 445–470. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00004-011-0075-3

Saouli, A.Z. (1989). The revival of traditional housing: The case of Biskra. (Doctoral dissertation), Institute of advanced architectural studies. University of York.

Sriti, L. (2012). Architecture domestique en devenir. Formes, usages et représentations Le cas du Biskra. université de Biskra.

Var, E. B. (2019). Influencing Factors for Spatial and Morphological Transformations of Vernacular Houses : In The Case of Trabzon , Turkey HOUSE & HOME ’ 17 / International Interdisciplinary Architecture and Urban Studies Conference LITERATURE , ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN SPAC. January.

Vrusho, B., & Yunitsyna, A. (2016). Space syntax anaysis in the Albanian dwellings. X. SCIRES.https://doi.org/10.2423/i22394303vXnYppp.

Widiastuti, I. (2018). Typology Study of Vernacular Courtyard-House in Kerala, South India. Jurnal Sosioteknologi, 17(3), 365–372. https://doi.org/10.5614/sostek.itbj.2018.17.3.4

Downloads

Published

21-12-2021

How to Cite

Barkat, R., Bada , Y. ., & Ince Guney, Y. . (2021). Genotype Syntactic Study of Vernacular Houses in Biskra City. ICONARP International Journal of Architecture and Planning, 9(2), 703–719. https://doi.org/10.15320/ICONARP.2021.177

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 2 (2021)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2021 ICONARP International Journal of Architecture and Planning

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

COPYRIGHT POLICY 

1. The International Journal of Architecture and Planning (ICONARP) open access articles are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDeriatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). This license lets the author to share (copy and redistribute) his/her article in any medium or format.

2. ICONARP cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms. Under the following terms:

The author must give appropriate credit, provide a link to ICONARP, and indicate if changes were made on the article. The author may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the ICONARP endorses the author or his/her use.

The author may not use the article for commercial purposes.

If the author remix, transform, or build upon the article, s/he may not distribute the modified material.

The author may share print or electronic copies of the Article with colleagues. 

The author may use the Article within his/her employer’s institution or company for educational or research purposes, including use in course packs. 

3. The author authorizes the International Journal of Architecture and Planning (ICONARP) to exclusively publish online his/her Article, and to post his/her biography at the end of the article, and to use the articles. 

4. The author agrees to the International Journal of Architecture and Planning (ICONARP) using any images from the Article on the cover of the Journal, and in any marketing material. 

5. As the author, copyright in the Article remains in his/her name. 

6. All papers should be submitted electronically. All submitted manuscripts must be original work that is not under submission at another journal or under consideration for publication in another form, such as a monograph or chapter of a book. Authors of submitted papers are obligated not to submit their paper for publication elsewhere until an editorial decision is rendered on their submission. Further, authors of accepted papers are prohibited from publishing the results in other publications that appear before the paper is published in the Journal.