La nouvelle ville Ali Mendjeli (Constantine), à la recherche de son identité. Ambiances commerciales et nouvelles urbanités

Abstract

La ville nouvelle Ali Mendjeli, située à 15 kilomètres de Constantine, est un condensé des paradoxes et des contradictions de la société algérienne. Grands ensembles alignés le long de larges artères, architecture uniforme et monotone, cités d'habitat social non entretenu vieillissant mal et trop vite, terrains vagues en attente de nouveaux projets, éloignement de Constantine et dessertes en transport insuffisantes et vite saturées…, tout indique une villebanlieue. Abritant aujourd'hui environ 200 000 habitants 1 , sa genèse et son histoire, sa conception, les étapes de sa réalisation, son peuplement qui dans un premier temps lui faisait jouer le rôle de déversoir de la ville de Constantine, révèlent la nature des politiques urbaines algériennes.Dans cette ville programmée qui plus de 20 ans après sa création porte encore les stigmates de ses origines, des dynamiques du bas, notamment commerciales, se sont greffer aux logiques de l'urbanisme initial. En quelques années, équipements commerciaux et de services à la personne, grands centres commerciaux et boutiques aux enseignes attractives, grands hôtels, vont s'introduire dans les lieux, créant des fonctions non prévues par les plans d'urbanisme et permettant à la ville nouvelle d'attirer une population qui va aujourd'hui bien au-delà de ses seuls habitants.A partir d'enquêtes de terrain menées depuis plusieurs années, nous montrerons comment dans les interstices de l'urbanisme programmé se développent des logiques nouvelles issues d'initiatives du bas. Nous analyserons le processus qui fera de la ville nouvelle, banlieue décriée dans les années 2000, un lieu où de nouvelles urbanités se construisent, où des ambiances urbaines liées aux nouvelles pratiques commerciales requestionnent la conception des espaces publics et de leur appropriation.

Measurement of management and development deficit on sustainability in neighbourhood unit. Case of the new city Ali Mendejeli Constantine

“…In Algeria, one of the biggest challenges of social housing is illegally appropriating social housing outdoor spaces [1]. These unlawful behaviours have resulted in poor resource management and difficulties planning social housing areas.…”

Urban Expansions for the New City of Ali Mendjeli: An other Strategy of Urban Management that Disregards Quality of Life in Algeria

“…No one can deny that housing is one of the primary issues of cities around the world (Ballout, 2021), but in Algeria it is of even greater importance to economic and social policies (Largat et al, 2022;Ballout, 2014;Zerrouki, 2015). The rural exodus, population growth, and social change have exacerbated the housing situation in this country (Belguidoum, 2021), hence exerting irrefutable pressures on the housing and building industry (Mazouz, 2013). However, almost all urban areas have experienced a rise in land portfolio saturation for over two decades (Benidir, 2007).…”

“…It was given the moniker "ville nouvelle Al Mendjeli" and was organized into five districts, each of which is subdivided into five neighborhood units (NU) consisting of 2500 primarily collective dwelling units, for a total of 50,000 housing units (Lakehal, 2015). From 1993 to 2018, a variety of housing projects were initiated, the breadth of which not only impacted Ali Mendjeli's urban layout but also expedited its rise as a town (Belguidoum, 2021). Although the implementation of this city was primarily intended to relieve a metropolis that continued to expand in all directions, choking on its growth as a mother city (Djundjnski, 1983), no one could have predicted that over time, this planned city would face the saturation of its land portfolio, thus experiencing the same issue as its mother city that it had relieved of its demographic surplus.…”

Evaluation the Impact of Spatial Configuration on Socio-Economic Parameters in Emerging Shopping Centers. Case study of Ritaj Mall in Constantine, Algeria

“…Indeed, the issue of architectural quality is still perceived negatively in Algeria, especially for the residential building sector (Handel, 2011). Many researchers have agreed on the negative image and decline of architectural quality, with functionalist practices that continue to separate functions (Belguidoum, 2021). In addition to this, there is the devaluation of the profession of architect, the low qualification of the companies of realization, the administrative blockage, etc.…”

“…Today, with private initiatives, we are witnessing a set of socio-spatial reconfigurations, linked to new commercial practices, favoring the emergence of commercial facilities of a new kind, not foreseen by the planning instruments. These structures, which remain a very understudied subject, began to spread in Algeria from the first half of 2010 -we have no official figures on the number of shopping centers in Algeria -and affected all major Algerian cities (Belguidoum, 2021). They play a decisive role in the reorganization of centrality and bring to light new spatial values that question the modalities of architectural design/production in Algeria.…”