In the vernacular housing, the courtyard is the main structural space, whether by its location, function, or symbolism. The experience of El Miniawy brothers in their project "124 logements CNEP" at Biskra with its typology was promoted as "the alternative" to the conventional and traditional "courtyard house." It was reformulated as a new multi-housing typology. Their approach is based on the conversion of the traditional house’s organisation around the "courtyard" from a horizontal to a vertical one in the contemporary house. This vision is argued by its designers as being inspired by local life way, to reformulate the "courtyard" space in a contemporary living environment. The present paper is an investigation that aims to evaluate this experimental project and see if it succeeded in convincing its residents as an alternative to both conventional contemporary housing and vernacular one. The study is based on two approaches. A literature review of the architects’ arguments to promote the typology they suggest and a post-occupancy evaluation (POE) of their project, applied in two steps. The first is observation through architectural surveys and photography, and the second is a questionnaire distributed to project residents. As a main result of the confrontation of the environmental intentions of the architects, with the results of the post-occupancy evaluation, the study showed that the conceptual approach adopted for these "courtyard houses" did not give the results expected by its designers. This was manifested through several parameters studied, but mainly by the declared uses, which are very restricted compared to those provided by the courtyard in the vernacular habitation.

This paper explores the neo-vernacular architectural approach in arid regions of Algeria, focusing on its implementation by architects Hani Hassan and Abdel Rahman El Miniawy. The study assesses how this approach blends traditional vernacular principles with modern architectural techniques to address contemporary needs while preserving cultural identity. It critically examines several projects by the El Miniawy brothers, utilizing methodologies such as post-occupancy evaluation and textual analysis to evaluate the sustainability, cultural adherence, and practical functionality of the buildings. The paper underscores the importance of understanding local contexts and integrating end-users' needs into the architectural design process, highlighting that successful neo-vernacular architecture requires a deep engagement with both the environment and the cultural landscape of the area. The findings suggest that while the neo-vernacular approach holds significant potential for sustainable and culturally sensitive development, its application faces challenges that must be carefully managed to ensure the effectiveness and acceptance of architectural solutions.

Objectives: The minarets are one of the most important elements of Islamic architecture that deserve study and attention, as they are a wonderful record of all the phases that Islamic art went through around the world. Therefore, they were chosen as the subject of this research by studying the composition of the architectural forms of the Ottoman minarets in the mosques of the city of Constantine-Algeria. This paper aims to answer the questions related to the formation and development of Ottoman minarets, and to search for the reasons behind the formation of their architectural forms in the mosques of Constantine city. Methods: The "Typomorphological approach" was chosen as a tool of the analytical method for studying the Ottoman minarets in the city. Results: The results showed that the reasons contributing to the formation of the Ottoman minarets in the city’s mosques were as follows: The functional exploitation of the minarets, the transformation of the minaret, into an Islamic symbol, in addition to doctrinal, technical, and military factors. Conclusions: Finally, it should be noted that the most important recommendation of the research is valuing this architectural heritage which represents the local identity of the city of Constantine, and opening a field of research aimed to study the architectural forms of Ottoman minarets in the mosques of the old city.

The sensory particularities of children with autism make their vision of the world different from that of non-autistic people. The architectural environment affects the well-being of autistic children in a direct way. Through this research, we intend to give suggestions and spatial design considerations of a psycho-pedagogical setting to guarantee that autistic children receive the best education possible. This objective is achieved by making sure that the autistic child is comfortable and well-cared in a psycho-pedagogical environment, as well as by assuring his effectiveness and integration into his surroundings. It is crucial to have enough architectural space and a suitable architectural setting in order to foster the child's difficult relationship with his environment, enhance spatial skills, and promote sensory well-being through light. This research based on qualitative approach highlights architectural solutions and recommendations implemented in future conception to offer a design adapted to autistic children. It also describes the conditions and guidelines that ensure an autistic youngster receives the surroundings he needs to be healthy.