Asrir-El Ghars: The Market District of the Traditional Village of M’Chouneche (Algeria)
摘要
The Aurès’ southern hillside villages are important to Algeria’s vernacular-built heritage. Due to its location at the extreme south of the Wadi Abiod valley, M’Chouneche is an important commercial exchange location. Such activities seem to occur exclusively in the market district called Asrir El-Ghars, located inside the palm groove and separated from the housing districts of the village. This toponymy, translated as the “Bed of Dates”, expresses spatially the village’s wealth regarding dates’ specific commercial exchange. The location, in this district, of the most important mosque of the village and its high minaret improve the importance of this area. This research focused on this commercial place and highlighted its territorial, landscaping, and urban characteristics. The outcomes reveal the topological centrality of Asrir El-Ghars within the palm groove and its position at the entrance district of the old village. Also, they highlight both the similarities and dissimilarities between this commercial district and the housing ones regarding landscape, urban design, and architectural characteristics.