New life breathed into Algeria's French colonial heritage

The former hospital of a military camp in Oran, headquarters of the health NGO Sante Sidi El-Houari.

Algeria's thorny relationship with its French colonial heritage is starting to change. In Oran, residents have founded a non-profit organisation to renovate a former military hospital that they say is part and parcel of the country's history and identity. Half of the hospital has already been renovated.

Oran is a picturesque city in north-western Algeria. First settled in the 10th century by Moorish tribes, the city bears the traces of a long and colourful history marked by Romans, Arabs, Berbers, Spanish and Ottoman occupations and French colonialism.

Yet despite its rich history, historic buildings are often neglected by the authorities. Buildings constructed during the era of French colonisation – which is today a largely ignored part of Algeria’s history - tend to suffer the most. But according to art historian and heritage expert Nabila Oulbesir, Algerian society's link with its colonial heritage is now evolving. Having tried to purge the country's cities by ridding them of signs of their colonial past, Algerians now seem to be starting to find value in preserving colonial architecture.

The French military camp hospital in Oran, before its renovation.

A neglected heritage site

"Everything that can be found on Algerian territory is part of Algerian history"

The organisation Sante [Health] Sidi El-Houari is an example of this change in Algerian attitudes towards its past. Founded in 1991, its goal has been to renovate an old French military camp’s hospital - a 6,000 m2 structure built in 1838 on the site of Turkish baths. Kamel Bereksi, the president and a founding member of the group, hopes to export the organisation’s knowledge and techniques throughout the country.

The hospital of the French military camp is located in the working class area of Sidi El-Houari, a 'rich' neighbourhood in a historic sense but one that has suffered both culturally and economically. The hospital had been completely abandoned throughout the 90s. It had become a sort of public dumping ground. So we decided to work on renovating it. We consider that French colonial heritage also makes up part of our identity. Some try to reduce identity to terms like 'Western', 'Eastern' or 'Islamic'. Algeria is a place that has been marked by every civilization that has existed on Mediterranean shores. Everything that can be found on Algerian territory is part of Algerian history, and that includes colonial history as much as any other history. We intend to breathe life back into this multicultural heritage.

The hospital of the military camp in Oran before its renovation.

The hospital after its renovation.

"We have recreated jobs that had disappeared"

In 1991, during the period of political opening that was sweeping Algeria, we created the association 'Sante Sidi El-Houari'. But the years of civil war that followed slammed the brakes on our work. It was only in 1999 that we were able to get back to work. We tried to find craftsmen capable of renovating a historic site. We couldn't find any. In Algeria, masons are trained to build concrete estates, which are sprouting everywhere like mushrooms. Craftsmen specialised in stone-cutting, lime and earth masonry - trades essential to the work of restoring old buildings - didn't exist anymore. We had to recreate jobs that had disappeared.

Then we had the idea to create training programs - particularly for the neighbourhood's unschooled youth - focused on the renovation and restoration of old heritage sites. The hospital's site is a kind of training workshop for 450 youths with whom we work. We have also developed training programs for local craftsmen. In 2008, the Wali [Editor's note: a term that designates a local governor] of Oran gave us a license which effectively gives us total freedom to carry out work on-site - a kind acknowledgement of our hard labour. Half of the site is now renovated. We've put in a school and workshops. We also organise cultural activities there which young people living in the area can take advantage of. A clinic for testing for sexually transmitted diseases is also up and running.

A student on work placement.

We hope that we can follow through with our work. But our financial means of support are very fragile. We've gone without funding for the last three months. And despite the authorities' keen interest in the matter, the management of heritage sites continues to be plagued by problems. There aren't really any centres of learning dedicated to restoring heritage sites and very few craftsmen are trained in the needed techniques. But we’ll have to find a way – the preservation of our rich cultural heritage is essential.

Renovation of the floor.

"I'm proud to have contributed to this renovation. I admire the building's construction, its frame, its floors"

Abdelkader, 23, was once a student at the field school in Oran. He's now an instructor there.

I was trained at the field school in 2010-2011. At the time, I had dropped out of school because of family problems. I'd heard people talking about the training carried out at the school: stone-cutting, lime and earth masonry, plaster coating, interior decoration, etc. I decided to specialise in stone-cutting. It's what I prefer. Today I'm proud of being a mason. It's the job of our ancestors. Their memories stay with me. Today, I have just become an instructor, and I'm keen to pass on my know-how to those younger than me because knowledge is a precious thing. We're lucky to have this school in Oran.

Students on work placement at the field school.

I'm proud of having contributed to this renovation. I admire its construction, the frames, the floors. I know every one of its architectural details. I know less about its history. I know that it was used to treat soldiers and sick people, but I still have a lot to learn. It doesn't matter if the building was built by the French because it's now part and parcel of our heritage. Today, the building is now once again able to welcome people. And to be honest, it would be my dream to live there.

Abdelkader cutting stone.

All photos courtesy of the 'Sante Sidi El-Houari'.

Post written by France 24 journalist Dorothée Myriam Kellou.