Syntactic study of genotype and phenotype in houses layouts transformation: Case studies from Biskra

Abstract

The organization of domestic space is primarily dictated by Functional needs, wellbeing (comfort) and sociocultural codes and rules that characterize a specific mode life ; a particular behavior. This study will focus on the spatial organization of different typologies of houses in Biskra city, Algeria, from different periods of time. The spatial configuration of house layouts may be different in different periods, regions, cultures, and societies. The transformation and changeability of spatial configuration and organization of domestic space is subject to differing parameters and rules as: (lifestyle, technology, openness to other cultures…) and which evolving over time. The aim of the study is to look into the transformation of house layout in different urban fabrics of the city of Biskra, through the important period of the growth of the city (before, during and after the colonial period). Consequently, the purpose isto look for whether there is a genotype or not a for all the house typologies produced overtime. Starting from the assumption that despite all the apparent differences spatial organizations and configurations of these typologies still follow the same rules (invariable principles) in organizing the spatial structure ; following the concept of Genotype and Phenotype