Intestines of a Building: Aziza Chaouni on Architecture's Systems and Resources

"With a practice rooted in contextual awareness and technical pragmatism, sensitive to the needs of the people it serves and to resource limitations, Moroccan architect Aziza Chaouni focuses on the hidden systems that allow architecture to be. Over the past two decades, she has been working on projects across different geographies, particularly in the Saharan region, actively engaging with its communities and heritage."

"Arguing that architects usually work with the resources available to them, she refuses to focus on one-of-a-kind buildings, redirecting her efforts instead toward scalable, structural change within architectural practice. In this interview, Aziza reflects on community involvement, material innovation, African heritage, and how these themes converge at SoNo."

Aziza Chaouni, a Moroccan architect, focuses on the fundamental systems and infrastructure of buildings rather than superficial aesthetics. Leading the South-North Lab for Sustainable Construction and Conservation at EPFL, she brings two decades of experience working across different geographies, particularly in the Saharan region. Her practice emphasizes community involvement, contextual sensitivity, traditional heritage conservation, and technical pragmatism. Rather than designing singular iconic buildings, Chaouni advocates for scalable structural changes within architectural practice. She promotes reciprocal collaboration between the Global South and Global North, demonstrating how working within resource constraints can foster innovative and sustainable approaches to contemporary urban design.

Read at ArchDaily