Architecture des établissements thermaux en Algérie durant le XIXe siècle. Reflet ethnocentrique du système colonial

• Main Author: Sami Boufassa est architecte-enseignant au département d’architecture à l’Université A. Mira de Béjaïa en Algérie. Docteur en philosophie sur la prospective urbaine, il se consacre actuellement à des recherches liées à l’histoire de l’architecture en Algérie du XIX et XX siècles. Ses derniers travaux portent sur les centres de colonisation en Kabylie orientale, sur les transformations architecturales des églises après l’indépendance ainsi que sur des analyses critiques de divers équipements coloniaux et postcoloniaux.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Diacronie 2018-03-01
• Series: Diacronie. Studi di Storia Contemporanea
• Subjects: Hammam; thermal source; XIXth century; colonial thermal tourism; history of architecture; source thermale; XIXe siècle; tourisme thermal colonial; histoire de l’architecture; sorgente termale; XIX secolo; turismo termale coloniale; storia dell’architettura
• Online Access: http://www.studistorici.com/2018/03/29/boufassa_numero_33/
• ISSN: 2038-0925; 2038-0925

During the second half of the nineteenth century, spas were born on the northern part of the Algerian territory, where aboriginals and settlers were living separately. These architecturally specific buildings were intended for both Algerians and Europeans. Often of local traditional inspiration, their look also included characteristics related to their activity and function, and reflected the varied cultural codes of the dual clientele of Algerian and European origin. The present work aims to analyze the architectural style of these establishments and to distinguish the local aesthetic specificities used in this type of building, by considering their functionality and the origin of the users (Europeans or Algerians).