Aga Khan Program Lecture: Meriem Chabani, "South South Cosmogonies"

Aga Khan Program Lecture: Meriem Chabani, "South South Cosmogonies"

by Meriem Chabani

Humanities, Social Sciences & Thought Arts & Architecture AMArchitectureAMATheory of architecture
🎙 Meriem Chabani 👥 124K 📅 October 27, 2025 ⏱ 81 min 👁 1K 📄 lecture 🧭 2026-08-16
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

Southcosmogoniesrepresentationceramicsacred

Summary

Meriem Chabani, an Algerian-born architect based in Paris, delivers a lecture at Harvard GSD titled ‘South South Cosmogonies’. She begins by recounting her early career rejection from a prestigious Paris exhibition due to her thesis on a Bangladeshi town, which sparked her exploration of the ‘South’ as a position of marginality rather than a geographic location. She cites Paul B. Preciado’s concept of the South as an effect of power relations. Chabani then presents three projects: an exhibition called ‘New South’ that launched her practice, a carpet representing domestic space for the Venice Biennale, and a structural ceramic pavilion developed with Tunisian engineer Radir Benhad. The carpet project, inspired by North African rug-making, was acquired by MAXXI museum. The pavilion, initially a self-supporting ceramic structure, was later adapted as a lost formwork for a permanent installation in southern France. Chabani discusses the challenges of working with ceramic, including deformation and funding constraints. She also addresses the racialization of religion in France, particularly regarding Muslim prayer spaces, and the impact of colonial history on Algerian Jews. The lecture concludes with a Q&A session.

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Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The lecture provides valuable insights into architectural practice that engages with decolonial theory and sacred spaces. Chabani’s argumentation is strong, grounded in personal experience and specific project examples. She effectively connects theoretical concepts like cosmogonies and the ‘South’ to tangible design decisions. The narrative is compelling and well-structured, though some theoretical claims could benefit from further elaboration.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

Chabani references several sources, including Paul B. Preciado’s article ‘The Invention of the South’ (2017) and the work of historian of religion Mircea Eliade. She also mentions the Canon of Ibn Sina (Avicenna) and the Crémieux Decree. The sources are relevant and add depth to the discussion. The title accurately reflects the content, focusing on cosmogonies and their role in architectural representation. The lecture is well-organized and the speaker’s expertise is evident.

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Title / Content Match

The title 'South South Cosmogonies' accurately reflects the content, which explores cosmogonies and their influence on architectural representation and practice from a 'southern' perspective.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

The lecture is a well-structured presentation by an experienced architect, grounded in personal practice and theoretical references. It includes specific project details and historical context, but relies on personal narrative and some theoretical assertions without extensive external verification.

Chapters

Cited Sources

  • The Invention of the South — Quoted at the beginning of the lecture to define the South as a construct of power relations.
  • The Sacred and the Profane — Referenced in relation to the concept of hierophany.

Concurring Sources

  • Paul B. Preciado, 'The Invention of the South' — The lecture's theoretical foundation aligns with Preciado's critique of the South as a construct.

Contribution & Novelties

The lecture offers a unique perspective on architecture as a practice of stewardship and covenant, challenging conventional notions of ownership. It presents a methodology that integrates ancestral and spiritual practices into contemporary design, as seen in the ceramic pavilion and the carpet project. The discussion of the racialization of religion in France adds a critical socio-political dimension to architectural discourse.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Decolonial aesthetics — Relevant to the lecture’s critique of the canon and the South.
  • Muqarnas — The ornamental vaulting system discussed in the lecture.
  • Crémieux Decree — Historical context for the racialization of religion in Algeria.

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Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in information quantity and quality, with a slightly lower technical level, reflecting the lecture's balance between theoretical and practical content. The overall reliability is strong, indicating a well-supported presentation.

Reliability 8/10