Dar Chaabya: bir drassen

Chaabya means the « people’s » place. This neighborhood was originally a settlement made during french colonisation. After the colonial army left, the houses left behind, became surrounded by « ghourbis », temporary settlements crafted in a grid by the local people.

Today those ghourbis transformed into reinforced concrete and bricks houses; modest yet long-lasting, following a need of the local population.

The project needed to be usable as it is, but also sustain a possible second floor, for future use, as well being reasonable on the cost of build (techniques) and materials used.

This project is an addition into this grid. The footprint of the house had to take the majority of the available land and integrate a fully functional household.

by Louhichi Younes and Souhir Soltani