Compactness as a Principle of Urban and Architectural Design and Sustainability

Abstract

The coastal town of Hadjret Ennous, located in Tipaza, Algeria, is undergoing rapid urbanization that threatens its fragile ecosystems, historical heritage, and valuable agricultural lands 46% of which are at risk of urban conversion. Despite its exceptional landscape potential, nestled between the sea and mountainous terrain, the town faces deep structural imbalances: a spatial disconnect between the historic center and new urban peripheries, insufficient tourism infrastructure, poor mobility, and increasing land pressure. This local situation reflects a broader national challenge, as 37% of Algeria’s population is concentrated on just 1.9% of its coastal territory, intensifying environmental stress. Addressing these issues, the thesis proposes a bioclimatic eco-district based on a multiscale territorial diagnosis (using GIS, citizen surveys, and diachronic analysis from 1962 to 2024), as well as adapted international urban models from the Mediterranean context. Covering 39.8 hectares, the project is built around four strategic pillars: controlled densification using local stone and stabilized earth materials, sustainable mobility through an electric BRT system and pedestrian/cycling networks, ecological corridors preserving the coastal strip with urban agriculture, and regenerative architecture including a solar-powered market, water reuse systems, and a bioclimatic thalassotherapy center. This innovative model cuts building energy use by 63%, nearly doubles green space per inhabitant, prevents the artificialization of farmland, and reduces car dependency by 31%. It offers a replicable solution for other coastal towns in Algeria (such as Aïn Tagourait, Stidia, and Azzefoun), embodying national strategies like SNAT 2030 and ICZM 2020– 2030, and turning environmental constraints into drivers of shared territorial resilience.