Winning a LafargeHolcim Awards Next Generation prize has had a significant impact on Meriem Chabani, a young French-Algerian architect: “It has given rise to publications and brought us numerous invitations to present this work,” she explains in an interview series by French/English magazine L’Architecture d’Aujhourd’hui (‘A’A’).

“Our project showed esteem for multi-factor research in architectural design, and the LafargeHolcim Awards prize has encouraged us to continue this effort in our professional practice,” said Meriem Chabani. Along with Étienne Chobaux and John Edom, she won a LafargeHolcim Awards Next Generation prize for their projectRe-made Fabricin Bangladesh in 2014. The concept seeks to reinvest in the textile industry of Chittagong, the country’s second largest city, on an urban and architectural scale.

The project also aims to redefine “Made in Bangladesh” by taking a critical look at the mechanics of globalization on a developing country, but which sketches the possibility of an alternative: Moving away from a massive centralized production, the project explores the possibilities of a network of small production cells, drawing a fleet of micro-enterprises organized around an import/export fair. The project was initially her final year project presented in 2013 at the Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Architecture de Paris Malaquais.

‘A’A’ asked Meriem Chabani about the follow-up work from Re-made Fabric but also about the impact the LafargeHolcim Awards prize had on her architectural practice. “Very quickly, we wanted to continue exploring the questions asked during the competition: the global practice of architecture and the impact of its mechanics on our territories. Our agency is fortunate to be confronted with this on a daily basis, in particular through the design of collective housing in Algeria and a cultural center in Burma,” explained Meriem Chabani.

This theoretical project was an opportunity to explore how an approach on multiple scales, built around economic, political and urban as well as architectural positions, had the ability to produce new solutions.

Triggered by the LafargeHolcim Awards prize, the team initiated multiple exhibitions and research projects, including a cycle of workshops on housing design in Africa. “During our first exhibition in Paris, we received the support of the LafargeHolcim Foundation; several members of the team travelled from Zurich for the exhibition opening. For young architects, this support is extremely valuable, and explains the very special place in which this contest resides from our perspective,” she said in the interview with ‘A’A’.

Following the LafargeHolcim Awards, two organizations took shape: TXKL, an architecture agency with members of our competition team, and New South, a research platform co-founded with other architects, including a further Awards competition winner. Very quickly, we wanted to continue exploring the questions asked during the competition: the global practice of architecture and the impact of its mechanics on our territories. Our agency is fortunate to be confronted with this on a daily basis, in particular through the design of collective housing in Algeria and a cultural center in Burma.

As for the New South collective, we have initiated multiple exhibitions and research projects, including a cycle of workshops on housing design in Africa. During our first exhibition in Paris, we received the support of the LafargeHolcim Foundation, several members of the team travelled from Zurich for the exhibition opening. For young architects, this support is extremely valuable, and explains the very special place in which this contest resides from our perspective.

More about:

Meriem Chabani and the Re-made Fabric (Remade in Bangladesh) project

To discover:

The collective New South