My Basket
The Amidoul Foundation has been awarded a Bronze World Habitat Award, in partnership with UN Habitat, for Tafilelt Tajdit, a socially inclusive and eco-friendly housing project in the Algerian Sahara.
Located in the M’Zab Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Tafilelt Tajdit comprises 1,050 homes designed to harmonize with the desert landscape. The development mixes vernacular architecture and traditional building techniques, with modern adaptations, to provide sustainable homes in one of the world’s harshest environments.
Homes have energy-efficient features, passive cooling techniques, and use local, eco-friendly materials. By incorporating traditional architectural elements, such as narrow streets, shaded passageways, and courtyards, Tafilelt Tajdit creates a comfortable and sustainable microclimate within the harsh desert environment.
The project draws on the Ibadi tradition of mutual aid and solidarity, and was funded in stages from an initial donation from Ibadi elders. Residents actively participate in the management and maintenance of the development, plants trees and care for communal areas, including an eco-park.
David Ireland, CEO of World Habitat, said: “Tafilelt Tajdit demonstrates that vernacular architecture is often the most suitable for harsh environments like the desert. By blending tradition with innovation, the Amidoul Foundation has created a thriving community that respects both cultural heritage and the natural world.”
Mustafa Tellai, General Secretary of Amidoule Foundation, said: “It is an honour and pleasure to receive this international award from World Habitat, for our efforts for the environment. We hope to continue teaching and training residents to cherish their habitat.”
Join the discussion