Mariam Kamara facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mariam Issoufou Kamara
Alma mater	Purdue University New York University University of Washington
Occupation	Architect

Mariam Issoufou Kamara (born April 1979, in Saint-Étienne, France) is a talented Nigerien architect. Her building designs are special because they focus on open spaces where people can gather. She often uses materials found locally in African communities. These materials include cement, recycled metal, and raw earth.

About Mariam Kamara

Mariam Issoufou Kamara was born in 1979. When she was younger, she first wanted to be a computer engineer. She studied computer science at Purdue University and New York University. After working in computing for seven years, she decided to follow her dream of becoming an architect.

In 2013, Mariam earned her master's degree in architecture from the University of Washington. Her main project, called Mobile Loitering, looked at how public spaces are used in Niger. It also explored how these spaces affect different genders. Her work was shown at a big exhibition in Italy in 2014.

Her Work as an Architect

While still in the United States, Mariam helped start an architecture group called united4design in 2013. When she returned to Niger, she opened her own company, Atelier Masomi, in 2014. This company focuses on creating open and welcoming living spaces in local buildings.

The United4design group worked on projects in the United States, Afghanistan, and Niger. Mariam's designs often feature buildings with interesting geometric shapes. She likes to use three main materials that are easy to find locally. These are cement, recycled metal, and raw earth.

In 2017, she taught about city planning at Brown University in Rhode Island. Later, in 2022, Mariam became a full professor at ETH Zurich in Switzerland. She teaches about architecture, history, and how to build in a sustainable way. In 2024, she helped choose winners for the first Ammodo Architecture Awards.

Important Building Projects

Niamey 2000 Apartment Complex

Mariam's first big project was Niamey 2000. This was an apartment complex built in 2016. She worked with other architects like Yasaman Esmaili on this design. The project aimed to fix problems with older concrete buildings in Niamey. These were like the one Mariam grew up in.

The final design has four buildings made from a mix of earth and cement. A special part of the design is a bench at the front. This bench helps bring back the traditional faada. A faada is a place where friends and family gather between the house and the street. It's a historical meeting spot.

Niamey 2000 was chosen as one of the top twenty projects for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2022.

Hikma in Dandaji

In 2018, Mariam worked with Yasaman Esmaili again. They created the Hikma project in Dandaji, a town in the Tahoua region of Niger. "Hikma" means "wisdom" in Arabic. This project is a cultural center. It includes a mosque, a library, and a community center.

Their design uses a building method called rammed earth. This method uses natural soil to create strong walls. Mariam believes her work combines different kinds of knowledge. It brings together modern learning and faith. For every project, Mariam makes sure to do a lot of research.

She visits the areas and talks to the people who will use the buildings. She wants to understand how they live and what they need. This helps her design spaces that are comfortable and fit their culture. The Hikma project took six months of observation. It created a space open to everyone in Dandaji. It also helps women get an education and become more involved in the community.

This project won two awards at the LafargeHolcim Awards for Sustainable Construction in 2017. This is a very big competition for sustainable architecture.

Niamey Cultural Center

Mariam Kamara is also working with a British architect named David Adjaye. They are planning a new cultural center in Niamey, the capital city of Niger.

Bët-bi Museum

In May 2022, Mariam was chosen to design the new Bët-bi museum in Senegal. This project is supported by the Josef and Anni Albers Foundation. The museum is expected to open in 2025.

Awards Mariam Kamara Has Received

• 2017: LafargeHolcim Awards for sustainable construction:
  • Silver medal in the Global category
  • Gold medal in the Middle East Africa regional category
• 2018: Rolex Mentor and Protege Arts Initiative award. This allowed her to work with architect David Adjaye.
• 2019: Prince Claus Prize in the Netherlands.

Selected Work

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

See also

In Spanish: Mariam Kamara para niños