Madagascar: Joan Razafimaharo

Joan Razafimaharo is a Malagasy architect and founder of TRANO Architecture, an architectural firm located in Antananarivo, Madagascar. The firm closed its for-profit entity in 2024, and is transitioning to a non-profit focused on education, social initiatives, and cultural development. Razafimaharo is also co-founder of Maison de l’Architecture de Madagascar (2018) and Foko Madagascar (2006). Razafimaharo holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in architecture from L’École d’Architecture de L’Université de Montréal in Montréal, Canada. As a freelance architect, her work has focused on sustainable design practices in architecture and on mentoring future architectural professionals; she volunteers as an instructor at the Architecture is Free Foundation (2021–). She is a member of Les Amis du Patrimoine de Madagascar (2021–), L’Association des professionnels de l’Urbain de Madagascar (2017–), and l’Ordre des Architectes Malagasy (2011–). She served as Secrétaire Générale de l’Ordre des Architectes Malagasy (2018–2021), and managed public relations and communication for L’Ordre des Architectes Malagasy (2014–2018).