We put the margin at the center.
Eng
New South is an international architecture, urban design and research practice based in Paris and Brussels. The office is a collaboration between two partners of multidisciplinary and multicultural backgrounds: Meriem Chabani (Algeria, France) and John Edom (Great Britain).
Making use of an anthropological approach, the practice engages with territories in tension: designing and building in post- and neo-colonial contexts through a dual approach of negotiation and representation.
The work of New South focuses on the revitalisation of post-industrial cities, the interaction between sacred and secular space, and housing solutions for a globalised context. Each project is the subject of a critical practice that seeks to open up spaces that speak to power, engaging with political, social, linguistic and economic parameters as integral to each project’s design process.
The office was the recipient of a 2014 Holcim Next Generation Award, the 2017 winner of Europan 14 on the site of Guebwiller, France, and named as an Expert by the Fédération Nationale des Agences d’Urbanisme in preparation for the Africa-France Summit.
In 2018, the installation, If Algae Mattered, a theoretical reworking of Mediterranean borders, was exhibited at the Fourth Istanbul Design Biennial.
In 2020, the office was the recipient of a Europe 40 Under 40 award, given by The European Centre for Architecture and The Chicago Athenaeum.
Founder Meriem Chabani currently teaches at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture Paris Malaquais (FR), Royal College of Arts (UK) and HEAD Geneva (CH), after teaching urban planning at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH).
Fr
New South est une agence internationale d’architecture, d’urbanisme et d’anthropologie basée à Paris et Bruxelles. Selon les mots de bell hooks, nous mettons la marge au centre. À travers nos projets, nous questionnons les dynamiques sociales, politiques et économiques qui s’exercent sur les territoires et forment les architectures
Toujours sur la brèche, New South formule des propositions tactiques adaptées à des échelles variées. Notre architecture est l’opportunité de faire émerger ce qui est déjà là, et donner une voix aux paroles invisibles.
L’agence remporte en 2014 le Prix Next Generation de la fondation Holcim, est lauréate en 2017 du concours Europan 14 sur le site de Guebwiller (Fr) et a été sélectionnée par la Fédération Nationale des Agences d’Urbanisme comme Expert pour la préparation du Sommet Afrique-France.
Le travail de New South est exposé à la Biennale de Venise (2023), Lagos (2024), Istanbul (2018), Tirana (2023) et Oslo (2023) .
New South est composée de deux Associé.e.s aux profils pluridisciplinaires et multiculturels : Meriem Chabani (Algérie, France) et John Edom (Grande-Bretagne).
Ils enseignent à l’Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture Paris Malaquais (FR), au Royal College of Arts (UK), et à la HEAD de Genève (CH), après avoir enseigné le projet urbain à l’Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH).
En 2020, l’agence a été lauréate du prix Europe 40 Under 40, décerné par The European Centre for Architecture et The Chicago Athenaeum.
Awards and Distinctions
2023 _ Leading women architects, AMC
2022 _Fellowship, Ateliers Médicis
2022 _Fellowship, LINA European architecture Platform
2020 _ 40 Under 40 Award, attributed by The European Centre for Architecture and The Chicago Athenaeum
Since 2019 _ Expert, Fédération Nationale des Agences d’Urbanisme, World Urban Forum
Since 2019 _ Expert, Urbanistes Sans Frontières, Africa-France Summit
Since 2019 _ Member of Steering Committee, Maison de l’Architecture en Île-de-France
2018 _ Selected office, Échelle Un, platform supporting young architectural practices in France, École d’architecture de la ville & des territoires Paris-Est
2017 _ Winner of Europan 14 international competition, site of Guebwiller, France : Articulations Productives
2017 _ Winner of FAIRE, open call for innovative projects, attributed by the Pavillon de l’Arsenal de la Ville de Paris : Hall Contributif
2015 _ Winner in France, Isover Multi-Comfort Housing competition (2nd place during international round)
2014 _ Winner of LafargeHolcim Next Generation Award, Sustainable Development prize _ Remade in Bangladesh
2013 _ Winner of Grand Prix, competition held by the Fondation Jacques Rougerie
Current and former collaborators
Pierrick Alotto (CA), Yasmin Abdu Bushra (ET), Sabontu Adisho (ET), Abdé Batchati (DE), Meriem Chabani (DZ/FR), Etienne Chobaux (FR), Doriane Debert (SN/FR), Chloé De Salins (FR), Pieter De Walsche (BE), Meryem Driouche (DZ), Mélissa Dyminat (FR), John Edom (UK), Yasmina El Boury (MA), Oliyad Emiru (ET), Julie Eymery (FR), Evan Giles (US), Marine Gilouppe (FR), Manon Goudard (FR), Alix Imbault (FR), Kenza Jazouli (MA), Camille Lot (FR), Chloé Macary-Carney (FR/US), Jean Makhlouta (LB), Maya Nemeta (FR), Camille Petric (FR), Fanny Primard (FR), Nuhamin Sahelmichael (ET), Lila Tadala (DZ/FR), Luna Villanueva-Pangaud (FR), Matthew Won Piker (KR/US)