Africans of the Year: Mariam Issoufou
Shelter should absolutely consider who creates it and who benefits from it.
Wynona Mutisi
Some of the mud-brick (adobe) structures in the historical city of Agadez date as far back as the 16th century. This is what Mariam Issoufou – who pivoted from computer engineering to architecture in her early 30s – grew up around. Now she draws inspiration from them for her architectural practice.
Agadez’s early masons built with their desert climate in mind. As the sun beats down, the structures provide essential shade and absorb the heat. At night when it is cooler, the walls slowly release the heat. Issoufou’s Western education provided design solutions to modern architectural challenges, but it seemed blind to the wisdom embedded in the ancient architecture she grew up around. This disconnect set her on a journey: researching heritage construction.
At the end of that process, Issoufou’s curiosity had led her to an innovative outlook on architecture. This is evident in projects she has designed, like the award-winning Hikma Community Complex and the Dandaji Market in Niger. They borrow from Nigerien architectural heritage and update it at the same time.
Issoufou’s sustainability approach involves using local materials, including raw earth and recycled metal. In her structures, clay, which is lower maintenance than mud bricks, is compressed into earth bricks to maintain the thermal qualities of adobe. Like the ancient Nigerien masons, she uses structural forms that allow the houses to cool naturally, resulting in less energy use. She hires local builders to blend traditional Nigerien masonry with contemporary practice. Ultimately, her buildings serve the community who will inhabit them. They sustain their livelihoods, history, and culture, which also ensures they are fit for local use.
Issoufou’s practice is a lesson in not forgetting the past and its wisdom while building a future that wholly and truly represents its people and context. Rather than producing grand new architectural designs, her practice starts with the community’s knowledge.