Considering luminous ambiance and spatial configuration within the Ottoman old heritage buildings (Algerian palaces) focusing on their modern-day utility

Abstract

PurposeThe Ottoman cultural legacy in Algeria is made up of a diverse range of architectural structures. The Algerian government strategy in connection with the Ottoman old buildings is to restore them into museums. This study will attempt to present a contrastive analysis between two old palaces being under restoration (refurbishment), and the goal is to propose a museum route by calculating the ambiance aimed at circulating the rooms by visitors.Design/methodology/approachThe authors analyzed the architectural components of the various entities by observing in situ and taking measurements for a single case study to get a sense of the results for the mid-season (spring and fall). The configuration was next evaluated by modeling the space syntax and combining it with a simulation of daylight luminance, for the period when the authors could not make measurements on-site. The ultimate goal is to combine these findings to suggest the ideal in-route for the future museum.FindingsThis research allowed the authors to propose a museum itinerary adapted to the new vocation of the palaces, which considers the daylight as an element of composition in the spaces of circulation.Practical implicationsThe paper proposes solutions to a flow management problem encountered in several similar palaces converted into museums.Social implicationsThe study aims to raise questions on the museum, and to preserve such heritage from neglect by giving it a new life more adapted to the needs of the Algerian society.Originality/valueThe authors believe that this contribution will be a creative solution for issues related to the operation of palaces that have been converted into museums.

Quantitative Estimation of the Internal Spatio–Temporal Characteristics of Ancient Temple Heritage Space with Space Syntax Models: A Case Study of Daming Temple

“…In the recent decade, spatial syntax has been applied to the study of multiple types of buildings and landscapes, especially been utilized as a convincing tool to assess the spatial organization of cultural heritage sites [12]. Spatial Differences among several typical ancient heritage palaces are compared by multiple space syntax models to guide restoration planning projects for those heritage redevelopment projects, especially for redesigning visitors' routes through the temple heritage [13]. The ASA and VGA models are also applied to estimate the spatial configuration in the case study of temple heritage, e.g., the Canaanite temples, which indicates that the temple heritage spaces are unique in their characteristics, not only in the role they play in the surrounding landscape and region but also in their distinction from the surrounding ancient temple heritage spaces [14].…”