Post-Ksour Urban Identity in the M'zab Valley: A Critical Analysis of Urban Transformation through the Lens of Sustainable Development

The five ksour of the M’zab Valley in southern Algeria, inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1982, stand as a model of vernacular architecture and sustainable urbanism. Despite their historical significance and strong identity, recent urban expansions in Ghardaïa and its surroundings reveal a striking departure from the original architectural and spatial principles. This article explores the erosion of urban identity in the post-ksour housing developments and examines the underlying causes of this transformation. Through a chronological study of five representative cases, this research evaluates the extent to which the founding principles of the ksour—centered on identity, cohesion, sustainability, and adaptation to the Saharan environment—have been disregarded in new urban configurations. The study employs the HQE²R approach to assess the integration of sustainable development principles. Ultimately,the paper proposes strategic recommendations to guide the requalification of these urban areas in alignment with the original model of the M’Zab.