Women in Architecture: The named and unnamed who broke into the profession
Women in Architecture cover.
By Kate Mazade
If you were to make a list of women who have defined the architectural profession, whom would you include? How would you even start?
Originating from the “Architecture Today” lecture series at the University of Tübingen, Women in Architecture: Past, Present, and Future highlights female designers who have brought a personal and innovative contribution to the profession. The collection, compiled and edited by art historian Ursula Schwitalla, reflects those who have presented in Tübingen and should be seen as a window into the industry, rather than an exhaustive list.
With graphic design and typesetting by Sylvia Fröhlich, Women in Architecture arranges bold, dynamic photographs with clean architectural drawings. Each architect is introduced with a small, grayscale headshot that pays homage to her ideas rather than her person or appearance. The works are described in a delicate, modern typeface with a technical twist, presenting the projects in an understated, sophisticated way.
The book is organized into three main sections: an overview of women throughout the history of the profession, four in-depth essays on significant designers who broke through gender roles in architecture, and a collection of 36 contemporary, female-designed project profiles from across the globe.
In the “Women in the History of Architecture” chapter, Schwitalla puts names to the many female designers who often carried out an entire career without recognition. Their creations were credited to male designers, or they worked under the association of men. These women quietly constructed a legacy of female designers of which we are a part today.
The second section spotlights women who stepped out of the shadows: Emilie Winkelmann, Eileen Gray, Lina Bo Bardi, and Zaha Hadid. Each penned by a different professor or practitioner, the essays outline the struggles and successes of gaining traction in a male-dominated profession. One such struggle: the relegation of a woman’s work to a man’s personal experience.
The chapter on Eileen Gray by Beatriz Colomina does exactly that. With only passing reference to Gray and her innovative designs, the essay could be renamed “Le Corbusier Eclipses Gray.” The interesting—albeit infuriating—narrative speaks to how often women’s work is passed over to discuss male actions. If you’re interested in actually learning anything about Eileen Gray, please visit the Bard Graduate Center extensive exhibition curated by Cloé Pitiot.
The third section of the book opens with Schwitalla’s “Women in Architecture Today” that outlines the statistics of the contemporary profession in terms of education, licensure, honors and awards, and company ownership. It brings to light the imbalance of the industry, especially as women advance to higher positions and recognition. The following 36 project profiles illuminate designs that span program and market sector, most of which were constructed within the last decade.
The tone and point of view shifts with each project essay and description. While this makes the overall voice inconsistent, it reflects the variety amongst women in the industry—that we have individual minds and ideas. All either solo owners or partners in architecture firms, the women profiled have an impressive collective resume of awards, including two Pritzker prizes. Ranging from 40 to 80 years of age, the women highlighted are in the peak of their careers, but the collection lacks a youthful voice. The book foregrounds mostly western European white women with a handful of Asian, Latina, and Persian architects. The featured projects have a slightly wider range of locations, but primarily follow the designers’ nationalities.
The book reflects the current demographics of the profession, but perhaps the next round of lectures and sequential publications might aspire to include prominent Black architects, more works in the southern hemisphere, or representation from emerging professionals who will carry us into the future of women in architecture.
Women in Architecture is available in English on Amazon or in German through the publisher’s website.
Women in Architecture open book.