In urban and architectural heritage, in both urban and mountain settings, the challenges of preservation and the issues surrounding enhancement
Naceur Baklouti
Ibn Khaldoun states in his ‘Introduction’ that the craft of building is the first and oldest of the urban planning professions; it is a matter of knowing how to design dwellings and houses for living in and seeking shelter.. ..
Traditional architecture, and in particular residential architecture, is closely linked to the environment in which it is situated, be it urban, rural, mountainous or insular, as in principle there is no dwelling outside a context that explains and justifies its architectural forms. It is therefore merely a unit that fits within this framework, encompassed by it, and defined by its mode of operation—that is, the way of life of its inhabitants and the surrounding urban area. In Tunisia, urban residential architecture (as found in old towns) represents a distinctive style that interacts with the urban fabric to form, alongside other architectural elements, the urban space which in turn constitutes the historic centre of a number of major cities such as Tunis, Kairouan and Sfax.
As for the second style that attracts attention, this is the mountain dwellings found in the mountain villages of southern Tunisia, where styles vary and blend seamlessly into their surroundings. These two styles constitute an urban and architectural heritage of great richness due to the diversity of their forms and local characteristics, and raise the question of their preservation and enhancement. …
