Towards an environmental approach for the sustainability of buildings in Algeria

Sustainable architecture (HQE in France, Green Buildings in the USA, Sustainable Buildings in Northern Europe) is a profound initiative whose objective is to achieve sustainability of buildings. This concept has spread throughout the world and each country worked to develop its approach (depending upon its physical and cultural conditions) to minimize the negative impacts of buildings on the natural environment and improving the comfort and quality of life. These international initiatives are characterized by multi-criteria vision, contextuality, flexibility and scalability. What strategy should be developed for sustainable buildings in Algeria? This is the fundamental question for which we try to provide some answers. On the basis of a thorough study of the Algerian context, we aim at the presentation of the foundations of an approach to the sustainability of buildings which would be adjustable to different regions of the country and whose peculiarity lies in the consideration of the major concerns of our country and its specificities. Including, for instance seismic risk, sociocultural practices of the population, as well as the diversity that characterizes the climatic and geographical data of the entire national territory, by following the existing national legislation, regulations and standards.