Residents’ Responses to Water Shortages in Algeria’s AADL Housing: Implications for Environmental ,Architectural, and Social Resilience”

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of informal water-storage practices in AADL housing
developments in Algeria, where residents install large-capacity water tanks on rooftops,
balconies, stairways, and entrances to cope with recurrent water shortages. The research aims
to evaluate the structural, architectural, and social implications of these unauthorized
interventions. A qualitative methodology based on field observations and expert assessments
was applied across several collective housing sites. The findings indicate that uncontrolled
tank installations increase seismic vulnerability by introducing irregular structural loads, while
also degrading urban aesthetics, damaging shared spaces, and generating social conflicts
among residents. The study identifies significant deficiencies in current water-management
strategies within collective housing programs. It concludes that integrating collective
underground water-storage systems combined with decentralized distribution mechanisms
could improve water accessibility, enhance structural safety, and preserve architectural
coherence. The research contributes to sustainable and resilient housing strategies adapted to
the Algerian urban context.