‫أ‬A- The Concept of Housing: The simple concept of housing, which usually consists

of walls and a roof, is far from the true and comprehensive concept that a person
aspires to. The concept of housing that allows a person to live in comfort and stability
is a space that embodies the services and facilities provided by society to the
individual, as a being who seeks to achieve greater well-being in all aspects of life.
According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning, it is any
structure that stands on its own, fixed on land or water, either
permanently or temporarily, made of any building material. It
consists of one or more floors and has a roof, used for habitation. It
has one or more entrances leading from a public or private path to
all or most of its contents and inherently contains the connection
between the built area and the surrounding space.

The Concept of Collective Housing in Algeria: The concept of

collective housing in Algeria has varied depending on the policies
that influenced housing production. Initially, it was known as "the
single housing unit financed by the state through the public
treasury, constructed and distributed to anyone applying for
housing." It was not limited to low-income individuals but was
intended for all social groups and classes without conditions, in
exchange for a nominal fee.

Classification of Residential Buildings:

Residential buildings are classified into four categories as follows:
First Category: This includes individual houses, detached, semi-detached, or
row houses that consist of only two levels.
Second Category: This includes individual houses, detached, semi-detached,
or row houses that consist of three levels, but the height from the ground to the
lowest floor of the highest dwelling does not exceed 8 meters.
Third Category: This includes houses that consist of more than three levels,
but the height from the ground to the lowest floor of the highest dwelling does
not exceed 28 meters.
Fourth Category: This includes houses where the height from the ground to
the lowest floor of the highest dwelling is more than 28 meters but does not
exceed 50 meters.

Types of Buildings by Usage:

Based on the nature of occupancy or type of use, buildings can be classified into
different categories as follows:
Residential Buildings: These include one or two private residences,
residential homes (apartments), hotels, dormitories, etc.
 Educational Buildings: These encompass any building used for teaching
purposes, such as schools, colleges, or daycare centers, involving the gathering
of people for education, learning, or recreation.
Institutional Buildings: This category includes any building or part of a
building used for medical treatment, such as hospitals, nursing homes,
orphanages, clinics, prisons, and mental health facilities.
Assembly Buildings: These may include any building or part of a building
used for gatherings.
Where groups of people gather for entertainment, recreation, social, religious, or
other purposes such as theaters, assembly halls, exhibition halls, restaurants,
museums, club rooms, halls, etc.
Commercial Buildings: These include any building or part of a building used
for business transactions, maintaining accounting records, town halls,
courtrooms, etc.
Mercantile Buildings: These are buildings used for trade, such as markets,
retail or wholesale stores.
Industrial Buildings: These types of buildings are primarily used for
manufacturing purposes. Here, products or materials of all kinds and
properties are produced, assembled, or processed, such as gas plants,
refineries, factories, dairies, etc.
Storage Buildings: These buildings are generally used for storing or housing
goods, such as warehouses, cold storage facilities, garages, stables, or transit
sheds, etc.
Hazardous Buildings: These buildings include any building used for the
storage, handling, manufacturing, or processing of highly flammable,
explosive, or rapidly combustible materials that may produce toxic fumes, or a
building used for storing, handling, or manufacturing highly corrosive, toxic,
acidic, or other liquids or chemicals that produce flame, explosive vapors, etc.
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Types of Collective Housing in Algeria:
Collective housing in Algeria is a strategy pursued by the state for both economic and
social reasons. It does not solely represent low-income families and disadvantaged
groups but is also part of a policy aimed at creating balance among various social
classes, both at the city and regional levels. The main types include:
Social Rental Housing (L.S.L): This type of housing is targeted at
disadvantaged classes whose financial situation does not allow them to own
any kind of housing. It is constructed by the Office for Real Estate Promotion
and Management (OPGI) according to Executive Decree No. 98/42 dated
April 1, 1998, and is the most widespread type.
Participatory Housing (L.S.P): These housing units are intended for middle-
income groups to gain home ownership. It is based on a joint financial
structure between the beneficiary and state support, aimed at helping the
middle class acquire property that they could not otherwise afford without this
 assistance. It was established under Executive Decree No. 94-308 dated
October 4, 1994, which outlined the rules for the intervention of the National
Housing Fund (CNL).
Assisted Housing (L.S.E): These housing units are constructed by the
National Agency for Housing Development and Improvement (AADL) in the
form of social collective housing, according to the following ministerial
decisions:
1. Ministerial instruction dated April 8, 1997.
2. Ministerial circular No. 340/SPM dated April 7, 1997.
3. Ministerial decision No. 27 dated December 18, 1997, specifying how families can
benefit from home ownership.

Sale-Purchase Housing (L.V.S.L): This is a new format introduced by the

state for housing production, allowing individuals to acquire full ownership of
a residence after deciding to purchase it. It involves collective housing
constructed by the National Agency for Housing Development and
Improvement (AADL). It emerged under Executive Decree No. 01-105 dated
April 23, 2001, which defines the conditions and methods of purchasing
publicly funded housing through leasing, characterized by taller buildings
compared to other types.

Urban Regulatory Standards for Supported Collective Housing in Algeria aim to

organize construction and ensure a quality, safe, and comfortable living environment
for residents. These standards cover various aspects related to urban design, urban
planning, and infrastructure. Below are some key standards:
1. Population Density
 Determining the population density ratio for each housing project to prevent overcrowding
in residential areas.
 Organizing the distribution of housing units to balance available spaces and ensure a mix of
green areas and buildings.

2. Design of Housing Units

 Adhering to the design of collective buildings according to safety standards such as
earthquake resistance, especially in seismically active areas.
 Setting minimum internal space requirements for housing units to ensure adequate living
space per person according to the defined standards.

3. Shared Facilities
 Providing shared facilities such as green spaces, playgrounds, parking areas, and utility
rooms.
 Ensuring areas are allocated for community gatherings and activities.

4. Infrastructure
 Connecting supported collective housing projects to infrastructure networks such as water,
electricity, sewage, and natural gas.
 Ensuring paved roads and pedestrian pathways that link buildings to public transportation
and essential services.
5. Natural Ventilation and Lighting
 Designing buildings to guarantee good ventilation and natural lighting for each housing unit.
 Placing windows and balconies strategically to allow airflow and sufficient light.

6. Safety and Security

 Complying with the provision of emergency exits and fire safety systems within buildings.
 Establishing clear evacuation plans and ensuring the presence of emergency communication
systems in the buildings.

7. Urban Planning
 Locating housing in strategic areas that align with the urban development plan and are close
to essential facilities such as schools, hospitals, and public transport.
 Maintaining diversity in land use near the housing units to create a vibrant environment that
combines living, working, and recreational spaces.

8. Environmental Integration
 Applying environmental sustainability standards such as using eco-friendly building
materials and technologies that reduce energy consumption.
 Complying with standards for rainwater drainage and minimizing harmful environmental
impacts.

Equipments of Housing Units

Article 51: The specifications outlined below in this section represent the minimum
required standards for equipping a housing unit.
Article 52: The kitchen must be equipped with the following:
 A work surface measuring 2.50 x 0.60 meters and 0.90 meters in height, with storage
cabinets under the countertop that have doors opening outward.
 A kitchen sink integrated into the work surface, a mixer tap, and pre-installation for a water
heater.

Article 53: The bathroom must be equipped with:

 A bathtub at least 1.4 meters in length with a mixer tap and showerhead.
 A washbasin with a mixer tap.
 An English or Turkish toilet seat, depending on regional living habits, equipped with an
internal flushing system.

Article 54: A designated space for a gas heater must be pre-installed, including
provisions for exhaust gas ventilation and air circulation in hallways.
Article 55: A designated space for an electric washing machine must be equipped
with a stop valve and a drainage system with a trap at the drying area.
Article 56: A water meter must be installed for each housing unit.
Article 57: The design and implementation of sanitary installations in the mentioned
areas must comply with DTR E 8.1.
Article 58: Sewage pipes, wastewater pipes, water stops, and rainwater drainage pipes
must be distinguished and may be connected to a single outlet, especially in the case
of a unified network.
  Rainwater must be drained through suitable pipes, avoiding direct discharge over building
facades.
 Primary ventilation must be installed at the top of each drainage pipe and designed and
executed in accordance with DTR E 8.1 or related DTR for road and various network works.

Article 59: Electrical installations must be carried out according to industry standards
using equipment of the required quality.

Article 39: The living room should be positioned at the entrance to allow direct
access for visitors without passing through the private areas designated for the
family's living space. Its area must be between 18 and 20 square meters.
Article 40: The area of the bedroom should be between 12 and 14 square meters. The
ratio of these dimensions should allow for maximum occupancy based on the
positioning of openings.
Article 41: In addition to its usual functions, the kitchen must provide the possibility
for meals to be taken, and its area should be between 10 and 12 square meters.
Article 42: The minimum area for the bathroom is specified as four (4) square meters,
and it must be equipped with a standard-sized basin.
Article 43: The minimum area for the toilet is set at 1.5 square meters, and it should
be designed to avoid any constraints on its functionality.
Article 44: Except in special cases, water rooms must have natural lighting and
ventilation. They can be combined in one location in the case of housing with two
bedrooms.
Article 45: The width of the corridor should not be less than 10% of the habitable
area of the dwelling. The corridor should serve as a distribution area and contribute
maximally to the internal movement within the dwelling, avoiding narrow passages.
Article 46: The estimated horizontal area for storage is set at 1 square meter,
excluding kitchen storage areas.
Article 47: The width of the balcony should not be less than 1.40 square meters, and
it should extend from the kitchen. Clothes drying should be shielded from external
view while enjoying sufficient sunlight. This space may also be utilized, if necessary,
as a functional area adjacent to the kitchen.
The minimum dimensions that must be considered for the areas related to the shared
movement within collective housing are as follows:
 Width of the entrance hall: 3.50 meters
 Distance between the entrance door of the building and the first step of the stairs or at the
entrance ramp: 4.50 meters
 Width of the building entrance door: 1.60 meters
 Width of the housing entrance door: 1.10 meters
 Width of the staircase: 1.10 meters

The spatial organization of the housing unit must be adapted, as much as possible, to
the local living style and meet the requirements of the applicable technical
construction regulations.
Article 33: The minimum habitable area is determined according to the type of
housing as follows:
  50 square meters for two-bedroom units (2 bedrooms),
 70 square meters for three-bedroom units (3 bedrooms),
 85 square meters for four-bedroom units (4 bedrooms).

Article 34: The coefficient KKK, representing the ratio of the total habitable area to
the built area, must not exceed a value of 0.70. The habitable area includes the interior
spaces of the rooms, kitchen, as well as the living rooms, bathrooms, toilets, corridors,
and storage units, excluding the areas of balconies and terraces when applicable. The
built area is calculated from the exterior of the building and represents the total area
outside the building for each staircase, excluding roof area and, when applicable,
external stairs.
Article 35: Each housing unit must consist of the following elements:
1. Living room
2. One (1) or two (2) or three (3) bedrooms
3. Kitchen
4. Bathroom
5. Toilet
6. Corridor space
7. Storage units
8. Balcony

· Building area
· ‫صاحب المشروع‬: Project owner
· ‫المهندس المدني‬: Civil engineer
· ‫المهندس المعماري‬: Architectural engineer or architect
· ‫مؤسسة االنجاز‬: Construction company or executing agency