Résumé: Urban air pollution is a complex problem that requires a multidisciplinary approach to tackle effectively. Our study aims to understand how pollutants disperse in a built environment through airflow, which plays a crucial role in the transport, dispersion and concentration of pollutants. To demonstrate the impact of various factors such as urban configuration, buildings and urban voids that create turbulence and vortices affecting pollutant dispersion, we conducted a comparative study in two configurations, taking into account the city's meteorological conditions and pollution sources. The practical study involved simulating the dispersion of two pollutants - NOX emitted by road traffic, the main contributor in urban areas, and CO2, a greenhouse gas - in two existing urban fragments in the city of Annaba, using the Fluent code of the Eulerian CFD model for a more realistic analysis. The outcome of this quantitative and comparative study will focus on the effect of spatial configuration and morphology of buildings and airflow on air quality and pedestrian comfort. To reduce the impact of urban air pollution, it is therefore important to take these airflow phenomena into account in urban design (street layout, building height). Through numerical simulation of these complex processes, the effectiveness of various urban measures can be assessed. Keywords: Air Pollution, CFD Simulation, Airflow, Urban Morphology

Résumé: Traditional courtyard houses, common in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions, are recognized for their ability to provide aerodynamic comfort in hot and arid climates. In the face of escalating climate change effects and health challenges amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need for sustainable architectural solutions. Courtyards, as central elements of these dwellings, play a crucial role in managing natural ventilation and creating favourable microclimates. This study specifically examines courtyard houses that have undergone significant transformations over time. Originally characterized by low courtyard heights, these houses have seen increases in elevation to accommodate growing housing needs, fundamentally altering their interaction with airflow and environmental factors. The study addresses how these architectural modifications, alongside courtyard orientation relative to prevailing winds, influence aerodynamic comfort. The primary objective of this research is to assess how the shape, height, and orientation of courtyards affect air quality and user comfort. By analyzing these parameters, the study seeks to offer architectural solutions that respond to contemporary challenges, both climatic and health-related. To achieve these objectives, the research employs a methodology combining numerical simulations using the ANSYS Fluent software, wind tunnel experiments, and a parametric analysis of morphological and climatic indicators. The case study focuses on the old town of Annaba, which has a rich heritage of courtyard houses that have been preserved since 2013.The results show that optimal courtyard orientation can improve air circulation by 25 to 45%, depending on prevailing winds and seasonal variations. Lower courtyards allow for better evacuation of hot air, while higher courtyards—introduced due to historical transformations—tend to retain more heat. These configurations, adapted to local climatic conditions, also contribute to a reduction in energy consumption by up to 30%. Furthermore, increased natural ventilation in open courtyards helps limit the transmission of airborne viruses, thereby improving indoor air quality. Keywords: Traditional houses; courtyard design; numerical simulation; Computational Fluid Dynamics; wind tunnel experiments; ventilation comforts

Résumé: This study examines the airflow characteristics of balcony openings in the traditional architecture of the Aurès region, focusing on their role in promoting natural ventilation and ensuring thermal comfort. These balconies, located in Ghoufi, are part of troglodytic homes designed to withstand the harsh arid climate. By utilizing numerical simulations and architectural analysis, the research evaluates the effects of balcony size, shape, and orientation on airflow dynamics and thermal regulation. Results highlight the effectiveness of medium-sized openings in reducing undesirable thermal flows while enhancing natural ventilation, which can reduce energy demand by 15-20%. Additionally, the findings demonstrate the potential of vernacular architectural principles to inspire sustainable design solutions for modern constructions, particularly in arid regions. This work underscores the need for preserving and leveraging traditional design strategies to address contemporary challenges in energy efficiency and ecological construction.

Résumé: Mots-clés : Afrique Proconsulaire, Hippo Regius, Bûna El-Haditha – Annaba, Mosquée de Bou Merouane, chapiteaux-spolia, iie-xie s. de n. è. Résumé : Les vestiges de la cité antique d’Hippo Regius dénotent d’une grande activité de construction orientée vers la mer à partir de matériaux locaux. Le marbre des carrières de Cap de Garde était utilisé pour réaliser des colonnes et des chapiteaux de différents types. George Marçais a signalé que de nombreux chapiteaux étaient transférés de l'antique Hippo Regius en l'an 1033 de n. è. pour être remployés dans la construction de la Mosquée de Bou Merouane à Bûna (Annaba, Algérie). Par ailleurs, les fouilles de la région de Hippo Regius, ayant été entreprises à partir de la colonisation française, en l'absence d'une documentation archéologique adéquate, n'ont pas permis de recontextualiser les chapiteaux de la cité antique, dont ceux de la Mosquée de Bou Merouane. Keywords: Proconsular Africa, Hippo Regius, Bûna El-Haditha – Annaba, Bou Merouane Mosque, spolia capitals, 2nd-11th c. AD. Abstract: The remains of the ancient city of Hippo Regius indicate significant construction activity near the sea, within a characteristic architectural ensemble built from the local materials. The marble from the nearby quarries of Cap de Garde was used for carving columns and various types of capitals. George Marçais noted that numerous capitals were transferred from ancient Hippo Regius in 1033 AD to be reused in the construction of the Bou Merouane Mosque in Bûna (Annaba, Algeria). The documentation of the excavations in the region of Hippo Regius, carried out during the French colonization of Algeria after 1830, do not allow us to suggest the exact provenance of the capitals of the ancient city, and those of the Bou Merouane Mosque.

Résumé: Earthen architecture, an enduring legacy of human ingenuity, has historically served as a source of durable and sustainable shelter across civilizations. Despite this significance, several of the world’s earthen architectural sites are now facing abandonment and obsolescence, as is the case of Ksar Khanguet Sidi Nadji in the Algerian Sahara. To address this critical situation, we propose a sustainable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective solution for the restoration of the urban fabric of the Ksar that takes into account the needs of its residents and its heritage value. Our approach utilizes the anastylosis method which implies that we reuse original on-site components as building materials whenever possible. We introduce new materials only when necessary, after subjecting them to rigorous testing and control. Additionally, we take into account the complex challenges of human, natural, and technical factors involved in the restoration process, offering a practical solution to restore and preserve the earthen heritage of the Ksar while benefiting its residents.

Résumé: Ghoufi is located in the Aurès Valley, near the ‘Oued El Abiod’. Its location, next to the panoramic road RN31, is referred to as ‘Balcon de Ghoufi’ because - from above - you can perceive the depth of the canyon (500/1200 m) and the beauty of the place, scattered with Berber villages (vernacular semitrogloditic architecture), terracing, water collection systems, palm groves, orchards and gardens. The Aurès Valley - a thoroughfare since ancient times, a caravan route between the desert and the Mediterranean Sea - has been the subject of archaeological explorations by Pierre Morizot since 1957-1962, which established the chronology of the settlements. This valuable work has been supplemented by ongoing research. This territory still retains the morphological and hydrographic peculiarities that justify the Berber settlement choice despite the fact that unfortunately the places have been abandoned following a recent flood. From 2016 activities of survey and research, directed by the University Badji Mokhtar of Annaba and the Polytechnic of Milan resumed at Ghoufi. These activities are aimed in particular at surveying archaeological and architectural artefacts, conservation interventions to address deterioration and instability and valorisation projects. Since 2017 the research has been funded by the MAECI. The project begun with the collection of documentation and knowledge of the Ghoufi site in a GIS environment. It prefigured a preliminary scenario for its conservation and reuse, following an approach of archaeological sustainability respectful of the characteristics of the site, the territory and the Country.