Genotype Syntactic Study of Vernacular Houses in Biskra City

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.