Mid-rise Apartments as a Strategy for Sustainable Urban Development: The Case of Algeria

Abstract

Algeria is mostly desert; its arable and green land is limited to the northern 17%, encompassing the Mediterranean coast and high plateaus. This northern region accounts for approximately 90% of the country’s urbanization, leading to the consumption of significant agricultural land. The proliferation of single-family townhouses (rowhouses), due to their inherent low density, is a primary driver of this phenomenon. This study provides a critical re-evaluation of established perceptions regarding mid-rise apartment buildings, considered within the framework of current sustainability principles. A descriptive comparative analysis is undertaken, contrasting mid-rise apartments with townhouses, the dominant residential building typologies in Algerian urban environments. The analysis evaluates twelve criteria, with a focus on the social and environmental characteristics of each housing option. The findings challenge the prevailing notion that townhouses provide a superior living environment compared to mid-rise apartments, demonstrating that mid-rise apartments offer advantages across all 12 evaluated factors. This research advocates for a change in perspective, promoting the consideration of mid-rise apartments as a viable and potentially more effective alternative to townhouses, particularly in response to increasing urbanization, diminishing availability of agricultural land, and the imperative for sustainable housing solutions.