Locating architecture, post-colonialism and culture: contextualisation in Algiers

Abstract

Through discussion of the case of Algiers, this paper exposes the forces by which architecture as a system of meanings and experiences is affected by a broader network of meaning. It examines how the built environment can contribute to the preservation of cultural values, and can also act as a physical instrument of cultural change. The study of the way that the built environment was produced in Algiers under Ottoman rule (fifteenth -nineteenth centuries), and the subsequent transformations that occurred under French colonialism (nineteenth -twentieth centuries), along with the cultural implications of each period, reveals that the extent to which architecture and culture relate to/affect each other depends on the broader political, economic and social context.

The Architecture of Colonialism

“…In the 19th and early 20th centuries, architecture was an important element that led to cultural change. Therefore, understanding the connection between culture and architecture is necessary for creating a civilized environment [2]. Colonial architecture is a hybrid architecture that incorporates the classic elements of the architecture of the motherland into the buildings or structures of overseas territories [3].…”

“…The Second World War undoubtedly had a huge impact on architectural concept and principles. After the Second World War the European empire collapsed, the geopolitical world was transformed, and a huge gap began to appear between architecture and cultural theories [2]. The success of many pre-colonial independence movements has caused people to refocus on the anthropological structure of the earth and reconsider cultural concepts in a way that accepts diversity instead of insisting on unity [2].…”

“…After the Second World War the European empire collapsed, the geopolitical world was transformed, and a huge gap began to appear between architecture and cultural theories [2]. The success of many pre-colonial independence movements has caused people to refocus on the anthropological structure of the earth and reconsider cultural concepts in a way that accepts diversity instead of insisting on unity [2]. In addition, the political and economic systems have a powerful influence on urban and domestic lifestyles, while the domestic lifestyles are influenced by the ruling authority, social relations and family units [2].…”

The Expression of Cultural Identity in Mosque Architecture in Brunei Darussalam

“…As in many other regions where Islam is the predominant religion or is well established, mosque architecture in Brunei reveals eclectic styles where typical structural forms adapt to a vernacular architectural style and function, occasionally with clearly intentional Arab-looking styles. This study argues that contemporary architecture became crucial to the construction and formation of cultural identities and that it rethinks concepts of historicism, tradition, post-national identity, and tensions within nation-state perception/projections at a global level (Delanty and Jones 2002; Djiar 2009; Vale 1992). This phenomenon is particularly evident in post-colonial settings and emerging economic powers (Bunnell 2017; Moser 2012; Moser and Wilbur 2017; Ogura et al 2002).…”

Bridging The Gap Between The Past And The Present: A Reconsideration Of Mosque Architectural Elements

“…This is critical considering that within the context of globalization and contemporary architecture, preserving city identity has become an essential issue. Mosque architecture in this regard should be perceived not only as a technique of forming the space but also as a chance to create a system of meanings and expressions [22].…”