Urban Heritage At Risk: Sustainable Preservation Strategies For Constantine, Algeria

Abstract

This study identifies systemic deterioration mechanisms that threaten Constantine, Algeria's multilayered urban heritage, and proposes an integrated preservation framework aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. Combining archival analysis, spatial documentation of key landmarks (Ottoman mosques, colonial bridges, and the Ahmed Bey Palace), and diagnostic fieldwork, we identify compounding degradation drivers: environmental exposure, fragmented governance, funding deficits, and uncoordinated revitalization efforts. The 2015 "Constantine: Capital of Arab Culture" initiative exemplifies implementation failures stemming from the exclusion of evidence-based strategies. We advance eight priorities: (1) adaptive reuse protocols, (2) craft-tourism integration, (3) science-led restoration, (4) heritage policy reform, (5) investment incentives, (6) participatory governance, (7) dedicated funding mechanisms, and (8) transnational knowledge transfer. As the first holistic framework for Constantine, this research repositions urban heritage as a sustainable development catalyst, offering transferable methodologies for Mediterranean and Islamic cities to balance conservation with contemporary needs. Policymakers are provided with an actionable roadmap leveraging heritage for economic resilience, cultural identity reinforcement, and climate-adaptive conservation.