Urban Matrix, Incroci morfologici

U R B A N M A T R I X
The aim of the proposed research is to study and describe the architecture of vernacular Berber cities situated in the Mediterranean Maghreb, the remarks made through the survey, the analysis and the
modeling of the investigated architecture encourages us to make remarks on urban form, enabling
the creation of an alphabet of the typical forms and configurations in the Mediterranean
architecture. Similar to previous works, we try to midentify the rules of formation and aggregation
of these Libyan urban systems and how they relate with the Maghreb's systems, in order to make
explicit the urban structure and the urban matrix. The urban form is studied
as a structure held together by relations of solidarity and dependency. This cross-study on urban systems is
directed to form a "code of practice" on the cities of Islam. A code of practice traces guidelines for the construction of a "code of technical acts " targeted to architecture and urban conservation. This code must be updated with additional scientific inputs and descriptive grids of interventions considered most
suitable for building conservation. Collection of these contributions is the cornerstone
of the "code of professional practice."
The "codes of professional practice" cannot be considered as aseptic containers of rules, constraints and requirements or a set of rigid standards which corresponds to the gradual annihilation
of many projects that transform the original conservative intent. The codes
are meaningful only with a set of technical and culturally aware actions, and a daily practice of restorations.
In fact, the code of practice must be a "code of reading and action” for the specific nature of each historic center and for each basic module and each building, a sort of user manual rich in content that comes from the historical customs.