Through a collaboration with local stakeholders and the organization “Reclaim Women ́s Space,” this project researched women ́s position in the Muslimcontext of Zanzibar, where there has been a more distinct gender separation traditionally. When Old Stone Town became a UNESCO-World Heritage site in 2000, the tourist industry escalated and the commercialization of space diminished the previously allocated women’s spaces. The Guardian wrote about the theme in 2018: “Spaces in which women can socialise and swap ideas may sound insignificant. But in a country in which only 16% of women have a bank account, nearly 22% are married before the age of 18 and women face many other legal, financial and institutional obstacles they are a crucial first step in allowing women to take their place economically, socially and politically.”* How can architecture and urban design principles support civil society and female empowerment in this context?

I interviewed local women and men of different ages and socio-economic backgrounds to understand how everyday life unfolds in the neighborhood of Old Stone Town. Many points could be made from meetings I have had with both individuals and groups. My main observation is that the understanding of their own position, agency and space vary a lot depending on education, socio-economic and civil status.

As a part of this project I translated the research into a room program, focusing on cultural activities for the women and the community of the neighborhood. The urban principle of differentiated public space suggests that the ground floor is open for everybody while the three upper floors provide more private spaces. The proposed pavilion has a flexible solution which allows for a varied functionality, visibility and safety. In this way, the architecture provide shielded public spaces for those women who need it, and more exposed public spaces for others.

One of the key findings for me as a Norwegian woman, is that I learnt a lot about the use of public space for women of Muslim culture. When I returned to Norway, I observed public space differently, and especially noticing how women from Muslim backgrounds were visible, or not, in public space. As I wanted to understand more, I interviewed women, and started to write articles about this theme. I think there is a lack of knowledge in how to accommodate for women, as especially women of Muslim background, which I want to contribute to creating more awareness and knowledge.

Although the architectural response is site-specific to this neighborhood, the urban principle of differentiated public space is applicable to other contexts and neighborhoods. In 2021 I contributed with this perspective into a report written for Områdeløft Grønland og Tøyen, Bydel Gamle Oslo, “Komplekse til trygge og inkluderende offentlige byrom.” The report provided references and analysis to the public space of Urtehagen in Grønland. The population in Grønland and Tøyen is multi-cultural, and has a large percentage of Muslim population, however, a very low percentage of the female population using the urban space.

The project has been awarded with the DOGA Newcomer Award and published in several publications. The Jury was impressed by the result, and enhances Eva Storrusten’s thorough understanding of the local customs and traditions: "This work shows a deep and thorough analysis of the local context, something the insightful and well-drawn project bears witness to."