This article is devoted to the comparative study of revitalization and popularization experience of ancient settlements preserving a traditional way of living. The cases of geographically isolated desert settlements of M'zab Valley in Algeria and Ukrainian mountain village Kryvorivnia are examined. M'zab settlements are conservative in respecting millennial customs of social coexistence, including the field of architecture and urban planning. Tourism is developing there in a controlled manner, managed by the organization of local volunteer guides. Kryvorivnia invites tourists to participate freely in the local life, rituals and festivals. In both cases, the initiative of revitalization comes from local communities. The preservation of ancient culture and architecture of the settlements is based on their historical integration in the natural environment determining both the necessity and the possibility of the sustainability of local traditions.

The historical development of water supply systems for portable and irrigation water gathering is traditional for lack of water regions of the world. The diversity of such systems can be observed at Middle East and Asiatic cultures. Some of them are still in use or partly in use now. The study cases of the work are traditional distribution systems of rainwater in the deserted M’zab Valley, Algeria and tropical Miyakojima Island, Japan. The research is aiming to precise the modern situation of traditional water supply systems estimating the possible ways of theirs sustainable development and revitalization. The research conducted on the case grounds mainly with field studies and interview methods. The water supply system of M’zab has been implemented more than eight centuries ago and is still in use. It is a complex hydraulic system based on the principle of total utilization of torrent water and on the equitable division of this water over the entire oasis. Local people now beginning to understand its cultural significance aiming to popularise it. Miyakojima Island medieval water supply underground system consist of the network of cave sources integrated with architecture. Now it is in decay not using like a source of potable water but still preserving some sacral significance with not pointing on popularization. For the sustainability and revitalization of the traditional water supply systems now it is not enough to preserve their initial function but also need to develop the potency of tourist attraction with reservation as cultural property.

The article deals with the traditional dwellings in the UNESCO World Heritage ancient settlements (ksour) of M’zab Valley in Algerian desert. The Mozabite habitats are reflection of cultural and social values embodied in the architecture, with simple design in their forms deep in their indications, they are organized with a set of principles and rules known as customs that were inspired by religion and adapted to the environment. This latter helped to preserve Mozabite dwellings for more than a millennium. In this article the attention has been drawn to the dwelling’s design and distribution of its spaces according the activities and lifestyle of Mozabite community considering the arid environment needs. Sustainability strategies have significant presence in different levels of the dwelling appearing from the usage of passive techniques which depend on the principles of conservation energy and water, exploiting renewable resources and usage of local materials. These techniques are what make dwellings integrate completely within arid climate.

Article concerns of the ancient traditional settlements of Algeria. The main attention are payed to the introduction of architecture of M'zab Valley that is a special historical urban phenomenon of Algerian. Article deals with five old historical preserved settlements, so called ksour, that are gathered in the agglomeration of M'zab Valley (so called Pentapolis) in the oasis of Sahara desert. The article is analysing the traditional planning structure and architecture of ksour in urban scale (macro level) pointing special attention to the climate adaptation techniques of building in the severe natural environment of Sahara desert. The Pentapolis of M'zab Valley is unique example of agglomeration where people dwells preserving traditions more than millennium of the years using the same urban infrastructures and buildings. In this point of view, it could be considered like an excellent case for study the harmonization of ancient traditions in the circumstances of modernity by living in the substantiality with environment.