« Villes nouvelles » et urbanités émergentes dans les périphéries de Constantine et Marrakech

Abstract

Depuis les années 2000, les périphéries des grandes villes maghrébines sont devenues les théâtres de nombreux aménagements urbains menés selon une logique de projet. Ces grands projets ont fait l’objet de recherches minutieuses notamment sur leurs dimensions politiques et institutionnelles. Toutefois, leurs effets socio-spatiaux concrets n’ont été encore que peu dévoilés.L’objectif de ce texte est d’apporter une contribution à ce champ de recherche : la « réception sociale » de l’urbanisme de projet, ici, de type « ville nouvelle ». À travers l’analyse et la mise en perspective de l’espace vécu des habitants des « villes nouvelles » d’Ali Mendjeli et de Tamansourt, respectivement situées dans les périphéries de Constantine (Algérie) et Marrakech (Maroc), il s’agit de vérifier les formes d’urbanités qui se dessinent, ou pas, dans les espaces re-territorialisés par l’intermédiaire de ces projets. Autrement dit, pour leurs habitants, ces espaces de « villes nouvelles » font-ils ville ?

A kingdom of new cities: Morocco’s national Villes Nouvelles strategy

“…Urban transformations have increasingly taken the form of ambitious 'prestige' mega-projects (Barthel and Planel, 2010), treated as 'the preferred vehicles to harness the perceived benefits of globalization through foreign investment, trade promotion and tourism-related revenue generation' (Kanai and Kutz, 2011: 347). Under King Mohammed VI, countless urban megaprojects have materialized across the kingdom since the early 2000s, popularizing a new form of intervention in urban space known as 'project-based urbanism' (urbanisme de projet) (Ballout, 2015;Cattedra, 2010;Mouloudi, 2014;Philifert, 2014). New urban mega-projects notably include transport infrastructure, most recently the Maroc LGV high speed rail line from Casablanca to Tangier; waterfront redevelopments, including Casa Marina and Casanearshore; large-scale commercial developments such as the Morocco Mall; urban port infrastructure and special trade zones such as Tanger-Med (Barthel, 2010;Barthel and Planel, 2010); and more recently, brand new cities.…”

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

“…Moreover, tackling a chronic housing crisis and effectively managing it involves many, interrelated activities and even constitutional amendments within the sphere of good governance (Zerrouki, 2015). In the past two decades, new cities have been built on the outskirts of Algeria's major cities to alleviate some of this crisis (Sidi Boumedine,2017;Ballout, 2015;Boumaza, 2006). In accordance with land use regulations and in the context of a state-led planning project, these cities are to be built thoroughly, not only on an urbanistic but also a functional level (Saidi, 2020;Safar-Zitoun, 2012;URBACO, 1991).…”

“…Similar to other major Algerian cities, Constantine has endured difficult, crucial, and testing times (Bendir, 2007;Cote, 2006). Its unusual and dense spatial development has led in major alterations to its spatial organization, which has undergone deep mutations followed by a chaotic urban thrust during the past several decades (Ballout, 2015). As a result of the proliferation of shantytowns and informal settlements on the periphery, there was a significant societal need for housing in this neighborhood (Nait Amar, 2013).…”