Arabic

Dr. Bouzid Boudiaf

Ajman University of Science and Technology,UAE

 Algiers and its water front: History, space and culture.

Waterfront urban composition and architectural languages have great impacts on the awareness of the public on the metamorphoses of the city from a tiny medina to a big city. The transformation of urban waterfronts often plays a major role in ongoing efforts to revitalize town and city centers to economic and social health. One of the objectives from this paper is to highlight the impact of the waterfront on the development of the different Master Plans of the City of Algiers from 1937 to 2007.

The contribution of the waterfront on the aesthetic and recreational quality of urban places, and hence to the quality of city life will be discussed through the following projects:

Marina District in 1930’s by Le Corbusier;

Diplomatic District in 1970’s by Oscar Niemeyer;

Commercial Pole in 1980’s by Bouygues and Marubeni;

Business Center in 1980’s by OFARES;

EEMAR projects in 2000’s.

The paper will be concluded by suggesting some recommendations that might be taken for the revitalization of Ajman.