Reflections on the vernacular mosques in the Souf region, Algeria: An attempt to inventory the local architectural language

Abstract

 The architectural design of mosques has evolved and been interpreted within various Islamic countries, influenced by diverse local contexts and specific circumstances. This article investigates the vernacular mosques in the Souf region, located in the southeast of Algeria. The study aims to reveal the local architectural language used in these mosques in order to develop an inventory of vernacular mosques. The investigation employs a hybrid approach, combining historical research methods, morphological analysis, and typology. The tools and techniques of data collection were based mainly on architectural surveys, in-situ observations, and non-directive interviews with the local inhabitants (testimonies). The findings confirmed that although the architecture of the vernacular mosques of the Souf respects the archetype of the Arab mosque and expresses a vernacular style particular to the region. However, their three-dimensional morphology presents a specific silhouette that is not found elsewhere in Algeria. These mosques are distinguished by their staircase minaret and raised dome (on a double tambour), which often dominates the mosques by their height and monumentality.