The Corporate Social Responsibility of Construction and Architectural Design Companies in the Algerian Desert

Reality and Aspirations

Abstract

This article aims to highlight the reality of corporate social responsibility practices in the construction and architectural design companies in the Algerian Sahara. It has been realized that they are not isolated from society and have become aware of expanding their activities to more than just productive activities by paying sufficient attention to society and the environment, and taking into account the three aspects of sustainable development: economic growth, progress, and environmental protection. The Study concluded that construction and architectural design companies in the Algerian Sahara have not been aware of the concept of social responsibility and its importance in achieving sustainable development in desert cities, characterized by unique architectural features that adapted to climate. By using local building materials and designing housing that takes into account the social and cultural dimension compatible with the desert community, some companies that have designed social housing in contradiction to traditional housing design standards have shown their inability to achieve harmony and compatibility with the local environment as they have been designed thoughtlessly, which could be explained by the lack of social responsibility of construction and architectural design companies that have designed an urban style specific to the north and transferred it to southern cities without considering the aspirations of its residents.