Integrating Socio-cognitive Dimension in Urban Management Tools: Perceived Access to Favorite Urban Places in Tipaza, Algeria

Résumé En

This paper addresses sustainable and healthy urban planning by focussing on the socio-cultural aspects. Stressing the social and the restorative experiences of salient urban places, especially in favourite ones, we aim to explore the socio-cognitive representations of local community in the Mediterranean town of Tipaza, Algeria, and then examine the influence of these socio-cultural meanings on accessing favourite urban places. We assume that beyond their physical characteristics, access to some urban places can be inhibited because of the negative meanings invested with, like criminality, or feelings of insecurity. The investigation protocol includes a series of interviews and questionnaires: Drawing on the structural social theory, associative methods were adopted to define favourite places in Tipaza and their associated meanings, while a Likert’s scale was used to explore expected experiences of local community. Results indicate that the influential physical features are recognized as favourite places. In the first instance, they are associated with aesthetic experience of the natural surrounding landscape. With few exceptions, favourite places are then appreciated for the social interaction they permit, and then, for their restorative experience. These findings are supported by literature and exceptions could be explained by the presence of socio-cognitive barriers which means that accessing them is subject of certain social restrictions. Social accessibility, social significance and the conservation/transformation of the built environment are represented in the form of different maps that should be integrated in the making-decision. These maps could constitute a good support to urban governance and contribute achieving a healthier urban planning.