Public Space, Islam and Women in Niger

At united➃design, we ponder a wide variety of subjects, across a range of scales. Working on different continents requires us to study and propose context-sensitive solutions for diverse conditions. One example is a project we developed to address the lack of access that young women have to the urban public realm in Niger’s capital, Niamey. Niger is a primarily Muslim country, where a moderate form of Islam thrives, but where young girls have a tenuous relationship with the urban world outside their homes. To confront this, we expand on the concept of “mobile loitering,” an already accepted practice that enables young women to be actors in, and spectators of, daily activities within the city. Our proposal allows women to more fully enjoy an urban social life, without the risk of communal criticism. The project hasn’t been implemented yet, but it has already attracted a lot of attention, and was recently published in the latest edition of Bracket Magazine, an online journal about architecture and digital culture. It was also been recognized by the Young Architects in Africa competition and is currently on exhibit at the Venice Biennale. Finally, we will be presenting the project at the International Union of Architects 2014 congress in Durban, South Africa this summer. Check out the project in more detail on Bracket’s website and view the YAA catalog here.

[Women-centered market along the loitering route_image by united➃design]