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Southern Oases
& Desert Edge

Stillness, water-led rhythms,

and calibrated continuity.

Southern Oases A.jpg

Orientation Snapshot

  • Southern Tunisian territory positioned at the northern gateway of the African Sahara

  • Oasis towns functioning as engineered settlements

  • Landscape composed of salt flats, rocky plains, and dune zones

  • A region defined by scale, precision, and environmental authority

Operating Conditions

  • Water governs settlement form, agriculture, and social order

  • Oases operate as hydraulic systems with timed distribution and shared regulation

  • Movement responds to surface hardness, salinity, and seasonal temperature

  • Architecture minimizes exposure and visibility alongside heat control

  • Desert towns historically regulated circulation between Africa and the Mediterranean

  • Seasonal shifts alter use without disrupting underlying systems

Reality Pins

  • The Tunisian Sahara is structurally compact yet systemically dense

  • Chott el Jerid functions as a salt system with variable passability

  • Oasis agriculture follows a deliberate three-layer ecological design

  • Date palms require manual pollination and continuous labor

  • Low light pollution makes the region one of the clearest night-sky zones in the Mediterranean

  • Winter months attract international presence without altering local structure

Material & Making Implications

  • Palm fibers support baskets, cordage, fencing, and repair

  • Clay and brick enable breathable, heat-adapted construction

  • Wool and animal fibers serve insulation and mobility

  • Objects prioritize balance, durability, and integration

Handoff

Materials follow water hierarchies and desert conditions.
Objects reflect restraint, calibration, and long memory.

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