Architecture studio New South has unveiled the Muqarnas Pavilion in Saint-Étienne, France, a striking semi-dome structure that draws inspiration from sacred Islamic architectural traditions. The innovative pavilion, located within the grounds of Explora Park on the outskirts of the city, represents a groundbreaking fusion of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design technology.
The pavilion was constructed using interlocking ceramic and concrete pieces, creating a self-supporting structure that demonstrates both artistic beauty and structural innovation. According to New South co-founder Meriem Chabani, the design team aimed to create something that would "feel like a precious stone revealed from the earth – something playful and magical, like a pomegranate split open to expose its hidden world." Chabani expressed hope that the pavilion would "rekindle a childlike sense of wonder" and serve as "an invitation to reflect on co-existence between the profane and the sacred, ornament and structure, human and non-human life."
The architectural concept directly references muqarnas, an ornamental motif commonly found in the vaulted ceilings of Islamic religious buildings. New South developed the pavilion as a comprehensive research project that successfully combined cutting-edge digital modeling techniques with traditional ceramic manufacturing methods. "The project reimagines sacred architecture as a space of innovation," Chabani explained. "It revisits the muqarnas, a hallmark of Islamic ornamentation, as a contemporary pavilion that bridges craft, architecture, and technology."
The construction process involved creating deep blue ceramic tiles that were backed with concrete to form substantial building blocks. These specially designed blocks were then carefully stacked to create the pavilion's distinctive form, which was subsequently covered with earth and lush greenery to integrate seamlessly with the natural landscape. The structure follows the principles of a catenary arch, an engineering solution that efficiently distributes weight while providing both enclosure and openness to the surrounding environment.
"The pavilion follows the logic of a catenary arch, an efficient form that naturally distributes weight while offering both enclosure and openness," Chabani detailed. "This geometry allowed us to create a single, continuous structure that is at once wall, roof, and habitat." The ceramic tiles were specifically engineered to function as three-dimensional building bricks, with each unit incorporating the fractal logic characteristic of traditional muqarnas patterns.
The technical specifications of the ceramic components were carefully refined to balance structural requirements, manufacturing feasibility, and human-scale construction needs. "Their dimensions were refined for structure, manufacturability, and human scale – something one can lift, place, and build with," Chabani noted. "They are three-dimensional pieces that interlock like Lego, reinforced with steel rebar and cellular concrete to support the soil behind the arch." This innovative approach allows the tiles to serve multiple functions while maintaining the aesthetic integrity of the original Islamic architectural inspiration.
The Muqarnas Pavilion represents the latest in a series of innovative architectural installations featured in contemporary design. The project was realized through collaboration between multiple organizations, with engineering by Radhi Ben Hadid and ceramic production by Gorbon Ceramics. The pavilion was commissioned by École nationale supérieure d'architecture de Saint-Étienne and CIVA, with construction carried out by Natacha Piroux, Filipe Borges, Lucile Nicollet, and students from the architecture school. Photography for the project documentation was completed by Jonathan Letoublon.
