Lessons from Tradition in the Building of Contemporary Settlements: The Case of Tafilalt in the M'zab Valley, Algeria

Contemporary settlements in the M’zab Valley, Algeria, can successfully integrate traditional planning and building methods to address rapid population growth while preserving cultural heritage. The study of Tafilalt, a settlement established in 1997, reveals how residents and developers adapted long-standing protocols—such as those used for the ancient towns—to create a cohesive, sustainable community. Through in-depth interviews, researchers found that these adaptations not only maintained the valley’s architectural identity but also met modern needs, suggesting Tafilalt could serve as a model for other regions balancing tradition with development.

Rezaei, N. (2021). Lessons from Tradition in the Building of Contemporary Settlements: The Case of Tafilalt in the M’zab Valley, Algeria. Architecture and Culture, 9(2), 310–334. https://doi.org/10.1080/20507828.2021.1883377