UNDERSTANDING THE TRADITIONAL BUILT ENVIRONMENT: CRISIS, CHANGE, AND THE ISSUE OF HUMAN NEEDS IN THE CONTEXT OF HABITATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS IN LIBYA

Man\u27s physical and socio-cultural habitation needs are not being met satisfactorily by contemporary planning in Libya. This dissertation investigates Libya\u27s traditional architecture in terms of settlement morphology and habitat typology in an attempt to identify the forces which have influenced its nature and the process of its development. Emphasis is placed on a detailed description of the desert town of Ghadames, which exemplifies the ways in which the built environment reflects man\u27s interaction with environmental and socio-cultural forces. The process of development of Libya\u27s traditional architecture was interrupted by the period of Italian occupation, during which colonial concepts of design were imposed upon the country; these concepts, and their effect on design planning in the post-independence years, are examined and assessed. Numerous relevant illustrations, plans and data tables are provided throughout the dissertation. The evaluation of past and present shelter design concepts leads to the conclusion that a suitable architecture for Libya will result only when means are developed to analyze and incorporate into design planning concepts which meet not just the physical but also the socio-cultural needs of the people. Planners, designers and decision-makers must involve the people in their search for a socially valid architecture