Zakaria Boutebila

NAME a Memory

When I was a little boy and for my very first time, my father brought me to an ancient city in the commune of Bni Hamden in the Constantine Province of eastern Algeria. The Ruins of Tiddis, this Romano-Numidian city that was so close to home struck a chord in me. The city was sculptured around the mountain thus creating a work of art. I developed my interest in architecture from that moment on. This art piece represented the identity of each civilization which to me, represents a time travel capsule.

NAME a City

Constantine also spelled Ksamtina by its people, was the capital of the Numidians. In Roman times it was named Cirta and was renamed Constantina in honor of emperor Constantine the Great. Located inland, Constantine is about 80 kilometres from the Mediterranean coast, on the banks of the Rhumel River.

Constantine or Sewa (The Royal City, as the Phoenicians called it), is built on two mountains. Also known as ‘City of Bridges’ Constantine offers its habitants numerous picturesque bridges connecting various hills, valleys, and ravines.

NAME a Quote

“The past resembles the future more than one drop of water resembles another.” - Ibn Khaldun

NAME a Building

The Shah Mosque is a mosque located in Isfahan, Iran. It is located on the south side of Naghsh-e Jahan Square. It was built during the Safavid dynasty under the order of Shah Abbas I of Persia. It is regarded as one of the masterpieces of Persian architecture in the Islamic era. The Royal Mosque is registered, along with the Naghsh-e Jahan Square, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its construction began in 1611, and its splendour is mainly due to the beauty of its seven-colour mosaic tiles and calligraphic inscriptions.

NAME a Material

Rammed earth is a technique for constructing foundations, floors, and walls using compacted natural raw materials such as earth, chalk, limestone, or gravel. It is an ancient method that has been revived recently as a sustainable building method. Edifices formed of rammed earth are on every continent except Antarctica, in a range of environments including temperate, wet, semi-arid desert, mountains, and tropical regions. The availability of suitable soil and appropriate building design for local climatic conditions are factors that favor its use.