Figure 3 : Similar green spaces form and location across the three typologies ; rectilinear , following the property walls and predominance of a mineral outdoor space over greenery
In terms of dimensions and proportion of dedicated green space in relation to the total outdoor space , in each of the three house typologies , the surveyed green spaces vary depending on the unit , but remain modest by comparison to the paved areas ( Tab . 2 & Fig . 3 ), indicating a dominant residents ’ preference for a mineral outdoor space .
Table 2 : Area and ratios of greenery in the three housing typology |
Plot Size |
Detached |
Semi-attached |
Attached |
|
400m2 |
300m2 |
240m2 |
Built |
Outdoor |
Built |
Outdoor |
Built |
Outdoor |
|
Regulatory areas
120m2
|
280m2 |
150m2 |
150m2 |
144 m2 |
96 m2 |
Initial areas
Current areas
30 % |
70 % |
|
50 % |
50 % |
|
60 % |
40 % |
|
Built |
Outdoor |
|
Built |
Outdoor |
|
Built |
Outdoor |
|
174m2 |
Paved |
Green |
150m2 |
Paved |
Green |
155m2 |
Paved |
Green |
|
153m2 |
73m2 |
|
96m2 |
52m2 |
|
57m2 |
28m2 |
42 % |
38 % |
18 % |
50 % |
32 % |
18 % |
64 % |
24 % |
12 % |
Built |
Outdoor |
|
Built |
Outdoor |
|
Built |
Outdoor |
|
Paved |
Green |
176m2 |
Paved |
Green |
161m2 |
Paved |
Green |
210m2 |
130 m2 |
60 m2 |
|
85m2 |
39m2 |
|
55m2 |
24m2 |
53 % |
32 % |
15 % |
59 % |
28 % |
13 % |
67 % |
23 % |
10 % |
The content and composition of the green spaces were evaluated in spring ( April to June ), a favourable season to witness the existing vegetation in full bloom . Characteristically , fruit trees and vines like plants emerge as dominant types of plant materials , followed by decorative plants . Without exception , all residents planted one or more fruit trees , the most common being lemon , then orange , apricot , pomegranate and fig tree . The trees are usually planted in large numbers at the back and side of the house for detached and semi-attached units , but few can be found at the front of the unit , with a depth of up to two trees depending on the unit front setback . The vegetable garden on the other hand is almost virtually absent , encountered in only one house out of the thirty units surveyed , and was only maintained during the fasting month of Ramadan , to provide fresh herbs . The survey showed that almost 90 % of residents prefer scattered plants to a vegetable garden regardless of their social origin as best expressed by one resident ( Unit D3 ) “ My wife loves flowers , when we moved in this house , she insisted on having the garden filled with flowers and not vegetables . It is a little rural ” ( Fig . 4 ). This attitude is probably related to people ’ s perception in the assumed dichotomy between rural and urban realms .
The green space explored in different individual housing typology , Algeria 313