Architecture studio New South has designed the Muqarnas Pavilion in Saint-Étienne, France, drawing inspiration from sacred Islamic architecture.

Located within Explora Park on the outskirts of Saint-Étienne, the semi-dome pavilion is constructed using interlocking ceramic and concrete components.

“We wanted the pavilion to evoke the sense of a precious stone unearthed, something enchanting and playful, like a pomegranate split open to reveal its hidden world,” explained New South co-founder Meriem Chabani to Dezeen.

“My hope is that it reignites a sense of childlike wonder,” she continued. “It serves as an invitation to consider the coexistence of the sacred and the ordinary, ornament and structure, and the relationship between human and non-human life.”

New South designed the pavilion to directly reference muqarnas—an ornamental element commonly found in the vaults of Islamic religious architecture.

This project was conceived as a research initiative combining advanced digital modeling techniques with traditional ceramic craftsmanship.

“This project reinterprets sacred architecture as a platform for innovation,” said Chabani.

“It reimagines the muqarnas—a signature of Islamic ornamentation—as a modern pavilion that unites craftsmanship, architecture, and technology.”

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