This is part of a special report produced in partnership with Gleeds
In the dynamic world of contemporary architecture, there are figures that stand out. One such figure is Mariam Issoufou, founder of Mariam Issoufou Architects.
An architect from Niger, Issoufou has dedicated her career to exploring the intersections of identity, place and history through her design practice and academic contributions.
“I have always wanted to be an architect, but growing up in Niger, particularly in the Sahara desert where I spent most of my youth, I did not know that this was a career,” she says. “But I was always influenced by the centuries-old architecture around me and the way adobe buildings provided us protection from the desert heat, for example. After high school I studied to be a computer scientist and only in my 30s did I go back to school to study architecture, my first love.”
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Issoufou earned her master’s degree in architecture from the University of Washington, as well as a master’s degree in computer science from New York University. This combination of disciplines has enabled her to incorporate cutting-edge technology into her architectural practice while maintaining a strong connection to cultural heritage and sustainability.
In 2014 she established Mariam Issoufou Architects, a research-driven firm that has since made a significant impact in Niger and beyond.
The practice now has offices not only in Niamey but also in New York and Zurich, and it is between the latter two that Issoufou currently splits her time.
The more women see examples of other women running different kinds of firms, in different geographies, using different approaches, the better – as someone can look at you and know that it is possible
Mariam Issoufou, founder, Mariam Issoufou Architects
The practice’s notable projects in Niger include the Hikma Community Complex, a library and mosque complex that won two Global Lafarge Holcim Awards for sustainable architecture. Other works include the Niamey 2000 Housing project, a response to Niger’s housing crisis which was shortlisted for the 2022 Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
Upcoming projects include Yantala Office in Niger, the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development in Liberia and the Bët-bi Museum in Senegal.
Issoufou’s work has been recognised on prestigious international platforms, with her designs exhibited at the Venice Architecture Biennale twice. In 2021 she showcased The Makings of An Artisan’s Valley in the Arsenale, and in 2023 she presented Process in the Giardini.
Her impact on the sector extends beyond physical structures: Issoufou is currently a professor of architecture heritage and sustainability at ETH Zurich, having previously held teaching positions at Brown University and Harvard’s Graduate School of Design.
On top of her design and academic work, Issoufou plays a crucial role in shaping the future of architecture through her advisory positions. She sits on the advisory board for Diversity in Architecture and serves as a trustee for the African Futures Institute, reinforcing her dedication to fostering inclusivity and innovation in the field.
When asked what the sector needs to attract more women she says: “The more women see examples of other women running different kinds of firms, in different geographies, using different approaches, the better – as someone can look at you and know that it is possible.”
And as for the one piece of advice she would give to women from Niger looking for a career in the built environment? She keeps it simple: “Do it. We need more of you in this sector.”
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