Mariam Kamara

**Mariam Issoufou Kamara** (dem born am for April 1979, insyd Saint-Étienne, France) be a Nigerien architect. Ein designs dey focus for open living spaces top wey she dey make use of locally produced materials available to African communities: cement, recycled metal den raw earth.

## Biography
Na dem born Mariam Issoufou Kamara insyd 1979.

Na Kamara ein first career ambition be make she be cam a computer engineer, for wich she earn a Purdue University bachelor's degree insyd technical computing (2001) wey she then get a master's degree insyd computer science from New York University (2004). She work insyd de computing field for seven years before she decide make she change careers wey she cam turn an architect make she fulfill ein teenage ambition.

Insyd 2013, Kamara earn ein master's degree insyd architecture from de University of Washington. Ein thesis, *Mobile Loitering*, dey focus for gender issues top insyd Niger ein public spaces. Na dem exhibit ein master's work at de Triennale di Milano insyd 2014 at de *Africa Big Chance Big Change* exhibition.

### Professional career
She co-found de architectural group *united4design* (2013) while she still dey live insyd de United States, wey for ein return to Niger she establish an architecture den research firm dem dey bell am *Atelier Masomi* (2014), wich dey focus for open living spaces top insyd local architecture.

De international collective of architects wey dey participate insyd *United4design* work for projects top insyd de United States, Afghanistan den Niger. Kamara ein designs dey feature buildings plus geometric shapes den dey rely for three locally produced materials top wey be available to chaw communities: cement, recycled metal den raw earth.

Insyd 2017, she teach urban studies as an adjunct associate professor at Brown University insyd Rhode Island.

Insyd 2022, na dem appoint Kamara as Full Professor of Architecture Heritage and Sustainability at ETH Zurich insyd Switzerland.

### Major projects

#### ''Niamey 2000''
Na ein first major project be *Niamey 2000*, an apartment complex dem build insyd 2016 wey dem design in collaboration plus Yasaman Esmaili, Elizabeth Golden den Philip Sträter. De project dey address de spatial problems dem link to de concrete structure of Kamara ein kiddie time home dem build insyd Niamey insyd de 1960s.

De result be four structures dem make by dem dey combine earth den cement fitted togeda. A notable feature be a bench insyd de front wey dey allow de reintroduction of de traditional *faada* - local gatherings of paddies den family wey dey routinely occur insyd de space between de house den de street, wich sanso be a historical gathering place.

Na Niamey 2000 be one of twenty projects dem shortlist for de Aga Khan Award for Architecture insyd 2022.

#### Hikma en Dandaji
Insyd 2018, she san work plus Yasaman Esmaili make dem produce de project Hikma ("wisdom" insyd Arabic) insyd Dandaji, wich dey insyd de Tahoua region of Niger. Inspire by de rammed earth building technique, de project be a cultural complex wey dey include a mosque, library den community center. Dema work dey combine de two types of knowledge "without contradiction, between secular knowledge and faith." For each project, Kamara ein preparation be key.*For each of her achievements, Kamara conducts field surveys in order to better understand the expectations of future inhabitants: how do they live and how do they receive? How comfortable will they be, culturally at ease? What will allow them to lower the temperature inside their house? The Legacy Restored Center project thus required six months of observations. As a result, it offers a citizen space open to all inhabitants of the village of Dandaji, promotes the education of women and strengthens their presence in the community.*De project win two awards at de Lafarge Holcim Awards (2017), de largest competition of sustainable architecture of de world.

#### Niamey Cultural Center
Kamara dey work plus de British architect of Ghanaian origin, David Adjaye, make dem plan a new cultural center insyd Niamey.

#### Bët-bi Museum
Insyd May 2022, na dem select Kamara by a jury make she lead de design of de new Bët-bi museum insyd Senegal. De Josef and Anni Albers Foundation den ein sister-organisation Le Korsa wey go support de project, wey dem set make dem gbele am insyd 2025.

## Awards she receive

* 2017: LafargeHolcim Awards for sustainable construction:
** Silver medal insyd de Global category
** Gold medal insyd de Middle East Africa regional category
* 2018: Rolex Mentor and Protege Arts Initiative award wey dey enable am make she collaborate plus architect David Adjaye
* 2019: Prince Claus Prize insyd de Netherlands

## Work dem selected

* Kamara, Mariam. *Mobile Loitering: A response to public space needs in Niger's post-colonial, highly gendered urban context*. Diss. 2014.

## References



## External links

* Photos of Kamara's Hikma en Dandaji
* Sketches of the design of a girls' school in Balkh, Afghanistan by Kamara and Yasaman Esmaili
* Website of ''Atelier Masomi''