Traditional Housing as a Reflection of Social and Cultural Specificities in Algerian Saharan Cities

The city has long constituted a fundamental subject within scientific research across various disciplines, particularly within the humanities and social sciences, including anthropology. Each city is distinguished by its own identity and cultural and social specificities. Saharan cities, in particular, represent a unique model with their ancient architectural heritage, which reflects the cumulative experiences and cultures of peoples throughout history. The urban typology of traditional dwellings in these cities serves as a genuine mirror of the prevailing cultural and value system, which is manifested in the methods of design and construction. This study aims to explore the cultural and social specificities of traditional housing in Algerian Saharan cities by addressing the concept of the city in general and the Saharan city and its characteristics in particular. Furthermore, the article examines the types of traditional Saharan dwellings, their components, and the design criteria adopted in their construction, in addition to highlighting the multiple functions that this housing model fulfils. Ultimately, the article seeks to reveal the symbolic and social values embodied therein. The city has long been a subject of scientific inquiry across numerous disciplines, particularly within the humanities and social sciences. Each city possesses its own identity, distinctiveness, and characteristics, yet the urban and cultural specificities of the Saharan city are markedly different and highly distinguished from those of other cities. These specificities encompass a diverse array of attributes, such as the authenticity rooted in the identity of the city’s inhabitants or the assimilation and hybridisation of external cultures.