Collective residential neighbourhoods in Algeria: between reality and planning. A case study of the 800 Housing Units neighbourhood in Batna City

The housing problem, or housing crisis, affecting most Algerian cities has compelled political and executive authorities at all levels (central, regional, and local) to adopt numerous housing policies aimed at reducing the significant gap between the two sides of the housing equation (high demand – low supply). Additionally, the challenge of providing housing units to realize all planned housing projects troubles local officials. Therefore, there has been a trend towards prioritizing collective housing projects to rationalize property consumption and enhance the real estate portfolio of local communities. Batna city has had its share of these collective housing programs, and our research paper focused on its deteriorating reality due to numerous changes affecting both the built and unbuilt environment. This has led to a decline in the quality of life in these neighbourhoods, prompting the intervention of relevant authorities to launch ‘urban improvement’ projects to rectify the imbalances recorded in the urban aspect of most collective residential neighbourhoods, including the 800 Housing Units neighbourhood (800-Unit Neighbourhood) as a good example. The process has been initiated to stop the aforementioned area from a deteriorating and elevate it from poor condition to a better, if not ideal, situation. In conclusion, we recommend that urban laws be activated to halt any illegal alterations or modifications, and above all, that design aspect of collective housing units during the planning phase be considered to align with residents’ preferences before the latter occupy them and make changes, thereby avoiding visual pollution with urban concepts.