Arabic

Dr. Mohamed Nabyl Chenaf

Chair of Architecture and Interior Design

American University in Dubai, UAE

The waterfront of Algiers from Le Corbusier to EMAAR

The present paper advocates the fact that in most cases, waterfronts are wrongfully designed as façades for cities not as interactive and integral parts of the latter. The bay of Algiers for instance, has always been the scene for major changes in the past and a permanent expression of a painful struggle for identity. Throughout centuries, the northern and southern parts of the Mediterranean sea nurtured vivid strategic, economic and cultural conflicts and interests; it is almost as if the waterfront of Algiers can only be designed from the sea ignoring the city itself and its internal dynamic. Actually, from the Obus plan of Le Corbusier (1932) to EMAAR (2007), changing the face of Algiers was the leitmotiv, yet, paradoxically, one can wonder whether the Phoenician, Zirid, Ottoman and 19th century Haussmanian successive typological layers, as well as the projected Le Corbusian and finally EMAAr’s schemes were actually hiding the true face of Algiers or revealing it to the world? Meanwhile Algiers is crying for attention not for a mere make up or even a plastic surgery.