Evaluating the relationship between sustainability and urban forms: Insights from the Casbah of Algiers

Urban sprawl, characterized by unplanned, low-density growth, challenges sustainable development by increasing land consumption, infrastructure costs, and environmental degradation. While much research focuses on environmental and economic aspects of urban sustainability, the social dimension, especially historically, is less studied. This research addresses this gap by examining the impact of urban sprawl on modern cities, using Algiers as a case study, and proposing solutions through sustainable urban forms. The study focuses on the historical Casbah of Algiers to assess how traditional urban designs can inform contemporary sustainable practices. It investigates whether Casbah's development aligns with sustainable urban principles like mixed land use, sustainable transportation, and compactness. It also uses resilience to evaluate social sustainability, analyzing how urban layouts promote community flexibility, social connections, and problem-solving abilities. The methodology includes theoretical framework development, stakeholder interviews, on-site observations, and literature review, assessing Casbah's sustainability through compactness, sustainable transportation, mixed land use, and resilience. Findings show that the Casbah exemplifies sustainable urban characteristics with its dense layout, pedestrian design, and diverse land use integration, promoting social interaction and community resilience. This research contributes to urban planning by demonstrating how traditional urban forms can address contemporary sustainability challenges, highlighting the integration of heritage preservation with modern needs, and providing insights for planners and policymakers on implementing socially sustainable and resilient strategies.