Evolution of Spatial Configurations and Inhabitants’ Practices in Algerian Collective Housing:

Collective housing, a key instrument of urbanization developed during Algeria's colonial period and later employed to address housing shortages after independence, has been the subject of extensive research.Previous studies have primarily focused on its sociocultural dimensions, including lived space, housing practices, and processes of appropriation.However, the analysis of spatial configurations remains relatively underexplored.This paper seeks to fill this gap by providing a deeper understanding of collective housing through the study of its spatial organization.The present research adopts the space syntax approach to examine a sample of collective housing projects in Sétif, with particular attention to their relationship with inhabitants' practices.Using syntactic data generated through justified graphs, the study compares spatial configurations across different historical periods: colonial, post-independence, and contemporary housing.In addition, the research combines syntactic analysis with semi-structured interviews to investigate how spatial layouts influence inhabitants' behaviors, daily routines, adaptations, and transformations of space.The findings reveal significant evolution in the design of collective housing, resulting in variations in spatial hierarchy, organization, depth, and integration.Unlike the more distributed and rigid ring-like structure characteristic of colonial housing, post-independence housing tends to adopt a tree-like structure marked by greater hierarchy, depth, segregation, and control.These changes reflect the emergence of a more controlled and segregated spatial organization.This study highlights the crucial role of spatial configurations in shaping inhabitants' practices by either facilitating or constraining patterns of use.It also provides valuable insights for the design of collective housing that better accommodates inhabitants' everyday practices and needs.1.