The CAPTERRE is located on the main axis of the city of Timimoun, in a jewel of earth architecture known as the “Oasis Rouge,” which was classified as a historic monument by decree on January 21, 2015. This neo-Sudanese building, constructed from adobe (raw earth bricks), features circulation spaces carved with Zenet Berber geometric patterns in bas-relief, showcasing the ancestral craftsmanship of the Gourara region.
Constructed between 1912 and 1917 under the supervision of François Athenour, a French military engineer, the building was initially used for military logistics and was named the “Timimoun Military Supply Building.” Its cross-shaped design, visible in the original plans, suggests it was also used for aerial navigation.
On July 11, 1925, the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique leased the building indefinitely and transformed it into a prestigious Sahara caravanserai, inaugurated under the name “Hôtel Transatlantique de Timimoun” on September 28, 1925. The opening ceremony, held on New Year’s Day 1926, welcomed notable figures of the time, including the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg and André Citroën.
After 1965, the hotel was renamed “Hôtel Oasis Rouge” until its closure in 1996. Since 2014, it has housed CAPTERRE, an institution dedicated to promoting earth architecture and preserving earth-built architectural heritage.
The CAPTERRE is located on the main axis of the city of Timimoun, in a jewel of earth architecture known as the “Oasis Rouge,” which was classified as a historic monument by decree on January 21, 2015. This neo-Sudanese building, constructed from adobe (raw earth bricks), features circulation spaces carved with Zenet Berber geometric patterns in bas-relief, showcasing the ancestral craftsmanship of the Gourara region.
Constructed between 1912 and 1917 under the supervision of François Athenour, a French military engineer, the building was initially used for military logistics and was named the “Timimoun Military Supply Building.” Its cross-shaped design, visible in the original plans, suggests it was also used for aerial navigation.
On July 11, 1925, the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique leased the building indefinitely and transformed it into a prestigious Sahara caravanserai, inaugurated under the name “Hôtel Transatlantique de Timimoun” on September 28, 1925. The opening ceremony, held on New Year’s Day 1926, welcomed notable figures of the time, including the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg and André Citroën.
After 1965, the hotel was renamed “Hôtel Oasis Rouge” until its closure in 1996. Since 2014, it has housed CAPTERRE, an institution dedicated to promoting earth architecture and preserving earth-built architectural heritage.
