Fellows

Ammara BEKKOUCHE

Architecte, Centre for Research in Social and Cultural Anthropology (CRASC), Algeria

Fellowship : October 2016 to June 2017

Discipline(s) : Architecture and urbanism

Area(s) of expertise : Urbanism

Pays : Algeria

Research Project : "Ecological urbanism in the urban planning process. The issue of green spaces in the face of shifting paradigms"

This research reflects on the reproduction of urban green spaces within changing contexts and related socio-economic issues. It refers to urban ecological precepts which provide new methodological principles that contribute to their design renewal. These involve management methods in the field of sustainable development strategy, taking into account the effects of the fragility of these green spaces on maintenance costs. Within the framework of urban ecological planning, the study examines the relationship between scientific research and operational activities. It suggests the problem of interdisciplinary research as a concept of multifunctional development approach, with regard to biodiversity and ambivalences that characterize this correlation. These types of open spaces are considered as places of “mediance” relating to social practices and civic implications. The investigations aim to interpret the created innovations in the light of changes implying the exploration of "urban resilience" as a concept in progress.

Biography

Ammara Bekkouche is an architect and urban planner graduated from the Polytechnic School of Architecture and Urbanism of Algiers (EPAU) and retired Professor of Higher Education in Algeria. She taught architecture and urban planning at the University of Science and Technology of Oran (USTO). Presently she is associate-researcher at the Centre for Research in Social and Cultural Anthropology (CRASC) in Oran. Following on from her earlier work on ecological urban planning, her research focuses on public green spaces examined through the lens of multifunctional practices, methods and management including urban development professions. Her investigations on urban design have led her to study different aspects of urban ecology in relation to environmental issues integrating social practices in economic valuation of green spaces. In addition to the quantifiable standards that characterize the "intermediate space" administration, sociocultural meanings are required as symbolizing the historical heritage and identity of the place. They refer to urban resilience issues and the adaptability of socio-ecological landscapes. The examination of ambivalences related to the paradigms in place contributes to ecological knowledge production through emerging concepts such as mediance and capabilities.

Major publications

BEKKOUCHE, Ammara. Comparative study on urban place-names changes: Place Jean Jaurès (Marseille) and Square Port Saïd (Alger), in Proceeding of the Symposion in Rome, 17-18 November 2014, Place-Name Changes, Hamburg: Peter Jordan/ Paul Woodman (eds), 2016, pp.55-64.

BEKKOUCHE, Ammara (Coordination). « Architecture, Paysage, Urbanisme. Pour quelle qualité de vie ? », Oran : ENAG/CRASC/DGRSDT, 2014, 597p.

BEKKOUCHE, Ammara. L’écologie urbaine en gage de qualité des espaces verts?, in « Architecture, Paysage, Urbanisme. Pour quelle qualité de vie ? », Oran : ENAG/CRASC/DGRSDT, 2014, pp.341-458.

BEKKOUCHE, Ammara. Urban agriculture as a way to supply the urban green spaces. Oran’s case study (Algeria), in Proceedings of the XXXVIII IAHS World Congress in Istanbul,16-19 Avril 2012,Visions for the Future of Housing Mega-Cities, Istanbul: Oktay Ural, Muhammed Şahin, Derin Ural (eds), 2012, pp.631-639.

BEKKOUCHE, Ammara. “La fréquentation des espaces verts urbains. Entre normes discriminatoires et pratiques sociales”, in Proceedings of 2ème Colloque international de Recherche et d’Etudes Interculturelles, 16-18 février 2011 (C.I.R.C.I.), Diversity, Gender and Discrimination in Spaces, Brussels : Ingrid Stratti, Lorenzo Dugulin (eds), 2011, pp.415-424.