The Role of Small Localities in the Requalification of Territories: the Case of the Grand Medea Territory, Algeria

Abstract

Since independence until today, the development of Algerian cities and the spread of their urban agglomerations have
led to the marginalization of small localities that were once flourishing because of their various vocations: rural,
historical, cultural, etc. This contribution is part of a new vision of spatial planning based on the architectural and urban
requalification of heritage resources and structures as a vector of the development of poor and abandoned localities.
It will be presented through the example of the large territory of Medea and its surroundings. The research is based
on the identification, recognition, and enhancement of the natural, historical, architectural, and urban heritage of the
territory. It is part of the main orientation of the National Land Use Planning Plan (SNAT 2023) which is the territorial
rebalancing. The approach made it possible to develop a territorial revitalization program resulting from the character
of the resources and potential of the site like cork factories, the recovery of abandoned farms, the creation of spas,
leisure areas, etc. It also made it possible to develop a reflection on the housing typology to integrate into the rural
contexts that characterize the Grand Medea’s territory.