Spaces of Resistance: Reflections on Algerian Domesticity

The thesis explores the role of Algerian domesticity in designing culturally, socially, and environmentally resonant spaces. This research engages critically with the legacy of French colonial housing projects in Algiers by confronting colonial practices that disregarded the cultural and social needs of Algerian families and challenging them by integrating indigenous architectural principles to enable a built environment that accommodates historical practices and contemporary needs. Central to this approach is creating sustainable environments prioritizing social well-being, cultural continuity, and economic sustainability. This research challenges the Modernist emphasis on efficiency, advocating instead for housing that fosters community interaction, supports diverse roles within multigenerational Algerian families and their adaptive spaces, and promotes belonging. Ultimately, it strives to resist colonial legacies by reintegrating cultural heritage into contemporary Algerian life.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Architecture (M.Arch.)

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Architecture

Grantor dc:publisher

Carleton University

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Laksari, Naila

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © 2025 the author(s). Theses may be used for non-commercial research, educational, or related academic purposes only. Such uses include personal study, distribution to students, research and scholarship. Theses may only be shared by linking to the Carleton University Institutional Repository and no part may be copied without proper attribution to the author; no part may be used for commercial purposes directly or indirectly via a for-profit platform; no adaptation or derivative works are permitted without consent from the copyright owner.

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

10.22215/etd/2025-16527

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:carleton.scholaris.ca:20.500.14718/43894