Arteconsult was invited by SOPRIMO to participate in a design competition for a 82,339 m² master plan in Mostaganem, Algeria. The project’s elements and various buildings were grouped into four main clusters, where the main prerogative for the Design Team was the magnificent view towards the Mediterranean sea:

Cluster 1 including 4 star Hotel and Furnished Apartments

Cluster 2 including shopping centre, health club, kindergarten, and 7 Residential Towers

Cluster 3 including 4 Residential Towers

Cluster 4 including Office Tower and Business Centre, 3 Multipurpose blocks (residential/offices)

The Concept Design process began with initial envisaging and briefing sessions (courtesy of our team in Algeria), in Oran, Algeria and later in our head quarters in Dubai where the project drivers, aspirations, constrains, and opportunities were discussed. At that time the project was to be the new flagship for the Client’s business, a centerpiece of a newly developed modern district, which was in line as well with the authorities’ vision and objectives for the general town planning of Oran. The project is envisaged as a landmark project, which would combine the use of commercial, administrative, retail and residential areas. The Design Team has focused on the economic value of buildings’ functionality, where the productivity and quality of service depend on the cleaver establishment of relationship and creation of correct atmosphere to the function of the buildings within the complex.

The Concept Design of Mostaganem Development was undertaken in a collaborative fashion by the design teams from each branch office. Given the limited time frame of approximately one week, the conceptual development was initiated in a two day “charette”/workshop in the headquarters wherein alternative approaches and philosophies were explored. The Design Team then further studied the selected developed scenarios using virtual models, feasibility sketches and inputs from the primary engineering disciplines, which helped determining the final concept design.

With a focus on high design quality, Mostaganem Complex will be developed to form a mixed-purpose complex with high proportion of residential buildings and lesser emphasis on the commercial and hospitality properties. High-quality buildings will be the priority in order to turn the district into an example of high-grade property and long lifecycles, setting the standard for future city expansion.

• Location: Algeria
• Type: Mixed use
• Year: 2008