Conducted research on architecture software, focusing on 3D modeling, rendering, and BIM tools. Evaluated software strengths, limitations, and applications to understand their role in enhancing design processes. Gained proficiency in assessing usability, precision, and integration, building expertise in essential digital tools for modern architectural practice.
Intenship 2: Zerarga Hocine Architects, ZH.a 2024
Mission :
Researched AI and computational design in architecture, focusing on algorithmic design and AI-driven tools for workflow optimization. Explored applications in automated floor plan generation, structural analysis, and sustainable design. Evaluated algorithms for adaptability, integration, and their impact on precision, efficiency, and innovation in architectural processes.
The Réghaïa wetland, a Ramsar site since 2002 and the last wetland of the Mitidja plain, is critically degraded due to urban expansion, untreated wastewater, resource exploitation, and unsustainable agricultural practices. These activities have caused severe biodiversity loss and weakened the wetland’s resilience to climate change.
Collaborating with Messaoud Bougerra and under the guidance of Mrs. A. Lachemi, Mr. M. Aoussar, Mr. M. Bouzoualegh, and Mr. Bensefia, we conducted an in-depth study to address these issues. Through site visits and global case study analysis, we used a problem tree diagram to identify root causes and actionable solutions. One key recommendation was pursuing the Ramsar Wetcity designation as a vital step in safeguarding the wetland’s future.
The project culminated in a comprehensive architectural proposal. The central feature is a wetland museum, repurposing deteriorated buildings to raise awareness and educate the public on conservation efforts. Sustainable practices, such as integrating solar energy, natural water filtration, and the use of locally sourced materials, minimize environmental impact. Public engagement spaces are designed to foster community involvement in preservation initiatives, while rewilding zones and natural barriers aim to restore biodiversity and protect the ecosystem.
This work demonstrates that achieving the Ramsar Wetcity designation could significantly mitigate the wetland’s degradation and secure its long-term sustainability. By combining rigorous research with functional design, the project showcases the potential of architecture to support ecological preservation and promote sustainable development.
Location
Réghaïa is a commune located about 28 km east of Algiers and 16 km west of Boumerdès, in the Mitidja region, a fertile plain situated around 30 kilometers east of Algiers. The commune is home to the Réghaïa Wetland, a Ramsar site that spans 1,100 hectares and serves as the natural outlet of the Mitidja plain. The wetland is bordered to the north by the Mediterranean Sea, to the south by National Road 24, which links Algiers to Constantine, to the east by the town of Boudouaou, and to the west by the town of Ain-Taya. This area is ecologically significant, rich in biodiversity, and plays a vital role in local conservation efforts.
Context studies
Algeria Algiers
Algiers
Reghaia Wetland (Ramsar Site)
Our mission was to design a transformative spaces along the stretch of Lake Réghaïa’s lakefront, blending sustainability, education, and economic viability as part of a new development. The Wetland Museum serves as a hub for conservation and community engagement, promoting awareness through a long, immersive gallery offering unique views of the aviaries, lake, and forest. It includes revenue-generating features like a souvenir shop to sustain the museum and wetland, as well as accommodations on the northern edge for researchers conducting overnight studies.
By harmonizing leisure, learning, and environmental stewardship, the museum and its surrounding development aspire to be a beacon for sustainable growth and cultural enrichment in the Mitidja plain
Typography was an important factor in the choice of implementation.
Dominant winds
Prevailing Winds
Existing Degraded buildings
Existing Paths and roadways Topography
Winter Sun Angle
Summer Sun Angle
Intervention Site
Reghgaia Wetland Development Plan - Action Plan
buffer trees densified trees in the site periphery - ripisylve plantation
Vegetation
revive native planting species that provides many nesting and shelter opportunities for the birds and insects(restoration of the swamp area)
Water engaging the local authority in the purification of water to support aquatic life such as fish
Broadwalk
Creation of Broadwalk over the wetlands that is going to allow visitors to have a spectacular experience
Hiking
Providing guided hiking for visitors
Bird hides
They allow for observing the birds and their natural local habitat
Visitor center for research education and observation
As is symbolic to wetlands, the form for the project is inspired by bird flight patterns, simplified into functional geometry.
To achieve this, we drew inspiration from the flight dynamics of birds. While a bird’s body maintains a relatively constant trajectory, the oscillatory motion of its wings—moving up and down—generates a sinusoidal pattern. This phenomenon becomes evident when analyzed frame by frame, revealing the aerodynamic efficiency that allows the bird to maneuver seamlessly through the air.
For the pattern of the façades, we got inspired by the rhythm in the pigmentation when looking at microscopic bird firths. this rhythm is made through solar protection.
FRONT ELEVATION
SECTION A-A
SECTION B-B
Structure
Structural Systems
Portal Frame System
The structural framework of the museum is composed of a steel portal frame system, coated with corrosion-resistant alloys to enhance durability in the wetland environment. The portal frames are systematically spaced to optimize load distribution and provide effective support for the wooden façade panels.
Bracing System
To enhance lateral stability, the portal frame is reinforced with strategically placed X-bracing, positioned in zones subjected to higher structural loads. This configuration ensures overall rigidity and mitigates deformations under environmental forces.
“Jarrets”
Supplementary bracing elements, known as “jarrets”, were incorporated to reinforce the connection between vertical columns and diagonal roof members. These elements enhance the structural integrity of the system, ensuring efficient load transfer and minimizing lateral displacement.
Pile Foundation and Elevated Structure
To minimize the building’s footprint and mitigate disturbances to the sensitive wetland substrate, a pile foundation system was deployed. This approach ensures structural stability while preserving the natural ecosystem. The elevation of the structure was determined based on the 1972 flood level, recorded at 1 meter, providing a resilient design response to potential future flooding events.
02
Bouwen Haus
Typology: Individual house
Proffessor: Cheriti
Location: Hatcliffe, Zimbabwe
Year: 2021-2022
When my parents purchased a plot in Hatcliffe, an underdeveloped area north of Harare, Zimbabwe, I saw an opportunity to design a sustainable home that addresses environmental challenges while serving as a model for the community. Inspired by Hatcliffe’s rugged terrain and limited infrastructure, I aimed to create a functional, affordable, and sustainable home that embodies resilience and harmony with the environment.
Collaborating closely with my parents, I designed a home inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie style, characterized by low horizontal lines that blend seamlessly into the Hatcliffe landscape. The design incorporates Venustas (beauty), Firmitas (strength), and Utilitas (utility), with sustainability as its cornerstone. Solar energy, rainwater harvesting, and insulation were integrated to ensure energy efficiency and year-round comfort.
Solar panels meet the home’s energy needs, ensuring independence from the unreliable electricity grid. A rainwater harvesting system collects and stores rainwater, providing a resilient water source during dry seasons. Effective insulation minimizes heating and cooling demands, enhancing energy efficiency. The deep earth-tone exterior, inspired by Hatcliffe’s soil, utilizes locally sourced materials to reduce environmental impact.
Hatcliffe faces significant housing challenges, with many residents living in incomplete or temporary structures that are unsustainable and uncomfortable. This project demonstrates how affordable, durable, and environmentally conscious homes can be achieved. It serves as a model, inspiring the community to adopt sustainable building practices.
Beyond this individual home, I envision a sustainable future for Hatcliffe—integrating green spaces, renewable energy, and urban farming to improve air quality, water management, and food security. By promoting such initiatives, Hatcliffe could become a beacon of sustainable urban development, demonstrating how thoughtful design can transform challenges into opportunities.
The Pain Treatment Center was an academic project completed during our fourth year in Douera, Algiers, as a collaboration among Abdeddaïm Dounia, Boushaba Randa, Meziane Hanane, and myself. It was designed to address the critical yet often overlooked need for dedicated pain management facilities, particularly in Algeria, where such centers are typically limited to small hospital annexes within specialized departments.
Our project sought to fill this gap by creating a facility focused on comprehensive pain management. It aimed to improve public health, enhance psychological well-being, and contribute to economic productivity. Sustainability was a key focus, ensuring resource preservation for future generations.
The center consists of four interconnected units, each with a distinct function. The General Consultation Unit evaluates patients and directs them to appropriate treatments, such as alternative medicine, short-term hospitalization, or the phytotherapy pharmacy. The alternative medicine section offers holistic therapies, including energy-based exercises and natural treatments. The hospitalization unit accommodates patients requiring short-term stays, while the Phytotherapy Pharmacy, which I was responsible for designing, provides herbal remedies made from plants cultivated in the facility’s gardens and greenhouses.
Built on a sloping site, the design takes advantage of the natural topography to create a calming environment that aids healing. Sustainability was central to the project, with careful consideration of acoustic, thermal, and visual comfort. The center also incorporates natural ventilation, optimized sunlight exposure, and biophilic design, blending greenery into the architecture to promote the psychological well-being of both patients and staff.
The pharmacy and natural medicine production unit were organized in a circular layout to streamline operations. Raw materials are delivered and processed through stages of production, culminating in the preparation of natural remedies. These are sold in the adjacent pharmacy, ensuring seamless integration between production and distribution.
This project offers a thoughtful solution to the scarcity of dedicated pain treatment facilities, merging sustainable architectural practices with natural healing methods to create a restorative environment for patients.
Facility Organisation
The facility is organized around a central space with a fountain at its heart, embraced by a therapeutic garden. This arrangement takes inspiration from centrality, a concept deeply rooted in nature’s design, where a core serves as a point of balance and connection. By applying this principle, the layout ensures smooth navigation and quick access to all units, creating a space that is both functional and calming
Facade design
The façade design reflects the rhythm of pain, capturing its ebb and flow through the interplay of wooden slats. These slats are arranged in a dynamic pattern, alternating in density and spacing to symbolize the waves of discomfort that rise and subside.
The varying intervals between the slats not only create a visual representation of this rhythm but also allow light to filter through in a way that mirrors the fleeting nature of relief amidst pain. This thoughtful design transforms the façade into a poetic expression of resilience and healing.
Aerial view of the facility
Facade made of the rhythm of wooden slats
Contemporary Mosque
Typology: Religious
Proffessor: Ismail
Location: Douera, Algiers,Algeria
Year: 2021 - 2022
During my second year of architecture, we were tasked with designing a contemporary mosque. This project presented an opportunity to reinterpret traditional Islamic architectural principles while embracing modernity. Inspired by the rich heritage of historical mosques and the grandeur of the Great Mosque of Algiers, my design envisioned a space that harmoniously blends elegance, spirituality, and function.
Concept and Layout
The central idea revolves around a serene courtyard encircled by elegant pillars, creating an inviting, open-air sanctuary for reflection and community gatherings. A fountain, positioned on a lower platform beneath the prayer hall, serves both functional and symbolic purposes, providing a space for ablution while reflecting the purity central to Islamic worship.
Minarets
To ensure the mosque’s visibility and iconic stature, I incorporated two striking 50-meter minarets framing the entrance. Designed with a rectangular plan—a hallmark of Maghrebian mosques—the minarets balance tradition and modernity. Their bases feature rhythmic concrete slats, creating a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. The midsection is adorned with an intricate diamond mesh, recessed inward to add depth and texture, allowing natural light to filter through and animate the structure throughout the day.
Materiality and Aesthetic
The choice of materials emphasizes simplicity and elegance. Concrete pillars and slats evoke a sense of permanence and strength, while the diamond mesh adds a modern, lightweight contrast. Together, these elements create a harmonious balance between the solid and the ethereal, enhancing the spiritual experience of the mosque.
Vision
This design seeks to reimagine the mosque as a contemporary architectural statement while maintaining its deep-rooted cultural and spiritual significance. It is a space that not only honors tradition but also embraces the aspirations of modern Islamic communities.
EAST ELEVATION
SOUTH ELEVATION NORTH ELEVATION
Acasta Rock
Typology: Hospitality - Restaurant
Proffessor: Ismail
Location:Ain Benian, Algiers,Algeria
Year: 2021 - 2022
Acasta is a design that draws inspiration from a site visit where I encountered a weathered rock, enduring through the passage of time. This natural resilience guided the vision for the restaurant, which embodies permanence, timelessness, and a deep connection to its surroundings.
The architectural style is rooted in classical Islamic design, featuring a geometric dome inspired by the Grand Mosque of Algiers. This iconic dome, along with thoughtfully articulated arches, not only enhances the depth of the structure’s envelope but also frames stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea, creating a seamless connection between the interior and the natural landscape.
Elevated on a plinth platform, the building is grounded within its environment. The plinth features rusticated detailing that adds texture and a sense of strength, anchoring the restaurant firmly to the site.
Inside, the design is further enriched by four central structural supports that act as the backbone of the space. These supports, crafted with precision, create an aesthetic focal point while providing necessary stability. Articulated wooden forms extend from these structures, adding warmth, texture, and a modern twist to the classical design, enriching the interior with a striking visual harmony.
Maximizing the use of both natural and artificial light, the design integrates strategically placed lighting elements to highlight the architectural features, especially the arches, dome, and wooden structures. The lighting shifts throughout the day and into the evening, transforming the atmosphere and accentuating the timeless qualities of the space.
Acasta is more than just a restaurant; it is a space where history, nature, and modern design converge to create a lasting experience for its visitors.
The design of the building revolves around two primary axes: a longitudinal axis and a shorter transverse axis that connects the entrance to the food ordering counter. These axes intersect beneath a central dome, which serves as the heart of the space and a key architectural highlight.
Public areas are thoughtfully positioned on the northern side, offering visitors stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea and the cooling breezes it provides. Functional spaces, including amenities and food preparation zones, are tucked into the southern side. This deliberate north-south orientation optimizes natural light along the building’s length while mitigating heat gain, creating a sustainable and inviting environment.
EXPLODED DIAGRAM
Arcade loop
Ground floor
Roof Dome
Tracing of the arcade
bounday
Dome insertion and caving- in of the arcade
The dome was modeled in Rhino using the LunchBox paneling tools in Grasshopper. A spherical surface served as the base, onto which a triangular tessellation was applied, creating a dynamic and precise pattern. By adjusting panel sizes and spacing, an intricate design was achieved, showcasing the efficiency and versatility of Rhino and LunchBox for advanced architectural forms.
02 . Application and extrusion of the diamond panels
04 . Crossing of the exposed Ribs
BACK FACADE
FRONT FACADE
Finished Dome
03 . Addition of exposed Ribs
Architectural Tours
One of my greatest joys is exploring Algeria’s historic architecture, where each city reveals a unique chapter of our rich cultural story. I’m particularly captivated by places like the Casbah of Algiers, whose narrow, winding streets and historic houses capture the essence of Islamic and Ottoman design, showcasing intricate tilework, wooden lattice windows, and a vibrant sense of community.
I’ve also had the privilege of visiting ancient Roman sites, such as the ruins of Tipaza with its breathtaking coastal views, and Timgad, often called the ‘Pompeii of Africa,’ with its remarkably preserved grid layout, grand arches, and detailed mosaics. Each site offers layers of inspiration, from the artistry in stone to the ingenious urban planning of ancient civilizations.
These experiences have deepened my appreciation for Algeria’s architectural heritage, fueling my passion to create designs that celebrate and preserve our rich past while embracing the future.
