A mnemonic spatial heritage in the city: the case of Hammam Chiab in Setif

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Interpretation of the socio-spatial representations of Setif allows us to understand how the hammam is perceived in the city. The hammam is understood as a socially produced and experienced environment via an examination of its portrayal within the Setifian identity in Algeria. This research examines how the hammam functions as both physical structure and cultural space by analysing how Setif residents interact with, perceive and remember this traditional bathhouse. Through a two-phase methodology, we first conducted a survey with 103 residents of diverse ages and genders, followed by in-depth interviews with ten key participants at distinct locations across the city. This approach, inspired by Kevin Lynch’s urban perception studies, allowed us to investigate how the hammam shapes urban identity and preserves cultural memory. Our methodology combines spatial analysis techniques with sensory ethnography to document both the tangible architectural features and the intangible cultural practices, oral traditions and embodied experiences that make the hammam a significant landmark in residents’ mental maps of their city. Drawing on cognitive psychology, it has been established that the hammam is a spatial heritage of identity. It is acknowledged not only for its practical purpose but also for its symbolic significance, which is passed down through generations via the transmission of traditions and customs. It serves as a repository of functions and meanings, as well as a carrier of identity, culture and history. It is considered a ‘spatial symbol‘and a prominent location within the city’s boundaries, which the current paper refers to as a ‘mnemonic perceptual spatial reference’.