I
....
-
-
en 0
C\J z(^0 0)
z 0
...J
u>
~ 0
(^0) z
< C/)
a:
~ a;
(!)
C5 <
-.. (.)
ii @
Hot on the heels of a hundred years of French rule, Le Corbusier arrived in Algiers. Declaring colonialism to be done with, he
simultaneously presented his unsolicited plans for the city- the 1933 visualisation of which shows sweeping, sprawling structures
stamped over the top of t he Casbah (above). One can only hope Nouvel's plans are more humane (below)
effectively fund and oversee progress. In // · - ~' damage to t he district, and Nouvel sh ould
2017, the Wali signed a co-operation <, _/[ not accept a commission t hat might lead to
agreement with t he Paris regional its tourist development and gentrification.
government; wanting to associate the The architect had been chosen wit h no
revitalisation of the Casbah with t he name public process. Altogether, 410 signatures,
of a renowned architect, at the end of last including some from the Casbah residents,
year the parties announced their joint endorsed Lambert's open letter. While it
selection of Jean Nouvel. Whether his makes legitimate arguments that should
experience on projects like t he Institut du help empower local agency, it also
Monde Arabe, National :Museum of Qatar, resurrects colonial antagonisms that ideally
and Louvre Abu Dhabi was the right sort of will be overcome by time. Two months after
expertise for a sensitive site with CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT 1 AFP 1 GEHY IMAGEs its publication, a non-violent revolution
competing stakeholders remains an open question, but if new began. In mid-February, Algeria's infirm four-term president
strategies can be brought to socio-economic condition s in the Abdelaziz Bouteflika had announced he would run for a fifth term.
Casbah, it could benefit everyone. Mjllions took to the streets, forcing Bouteflika to resign, joined in
Soon after t he news, a young French architect named Leopold subsequent months by the speaker of t he parliament, the head of the
Lambert released an open letter in opposition to Nouvel's role, constitutional council, the cultural minister and the Wali in ch arge
anonymously co-·wTitten by two others and published in his magazine of overseeing the Casbah's restoration and protection. Progressive
of spatial politics The Funambulist and French newspaper admjnjstrators have since been placed in positions of authority but,
L)Humanite. The letter argued t hat t he Casbah's residents should be for now, 'the power' is still in charge.
in control of its fate: French colonisation had already caused enough The results of Nouvel's study are expected this autumn. For novv,