Initially trained as a computer engineer, Mariam Issoufou only decided to make a fresh start in architecture in her early thirties. She obtained her Master's degree in architecture from the University of Washington in 2013. Since then, she has been exploring the use of local building materials and construction techniques, as well as the possibilities of social encounters in public spaces in her projects, many of which focus on her home country of Niger. Among the buildings she has realised are the Hikma Community Complex in the Nigerien town of Dandaji and the Niamey 2000 residential complex in the capital of Niger. Mariam Issoufou Architects has offices in Niamey, New York City and Zurich. As an academic mentor, however, Mariam Issoufou has become better known for her commitment to intersectional sustainability, i.e. the combination of environmental issues and social justice, than for her previous practice. She has been teaching at ETH Zurich as Professor of Architectural Heritage and Sustainability since 2022.

Statement of the jury

Mariam Issoufou receives the title ‘Creator of the Year’ for her remarkable and dedicated career and her work, which extends far beyond architecture into society. Within just a few years, the Nigerien architect has established herself as one of the most important representatives of social and sustainable urban development on the African continent, thereby contributing to the development of postcolonial identities. A key part of this is her interpretation of traditional and fundamentally resource-efficient construction methods – such as the use of rammed earth and mud bricks – to create contemporary complexes with social appeal. Issoufou shares her insights on the path to a future-oriented building culture from an African perspective, both as a professor of architectural heritage and sustainability at ETH Zurich, and also by participating in exhibitions such as the 2023 Architecture Biennale in Venice. One of the focuses of her teaching is on questions of decolonisation; exploring ways in which deeply rooted assumptions, colonialised knowledge and mindsets can be overcome in research, teaching and practice. Her diverse work and her dedicated efforts on a wide variety of levels deserve special recognition! Not only younger architects, but also older generations can, and indeed should, learn from her.

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