ABSTRACT
Taghit is a ksar in a small oasis town; it highlights the know-how on which the architectural typology of the place is based. The fortifications provided a good defense system, the public spaces reveal a rich community life, the road network and the building materials reflect an optimal management of the harsh climate. This secular symbiosis between built environment and ecosystem is nowadays threatened by an inadequate urban development. Socioeconomic changes have given way to uncontrolled introduction of inappropriate building materials and equipments, which have pushed the occupants of Taghit away from the ksar. This situation is causing multiple damages to the buildings and the ruin of most of the town. It is clear that this heritage must be protected to enable future generations enjoying this ancestral legacy. For this reason, this paper wishes to describe the potentialities of Taghit as well as the first actions required to maintain this threatened place.
