Discourse surrounding women in architecture and its adjacent disciplines continues to grow and expand. With March honoring Women's History Month and this week's International Women's Day, let us be reminded that a woman's worth, intellect, and contributions shouldn't be reserved for a single day or month of awareness and celebration. Instead, let's continue to propel equity and intersectionality within practice, close the gender pay gap, hire women for their skills as practitioners not to check DEI boxes, listen to women as equals, and refrain from tokenization.
A continuous goal at Archinect has been to use our platform as a means to amplify and connect with various groups and voices, especially women in practice. In celebration of all female practitioners, today and every day below is a group of architects and firm leaders to follow via their firm profiles on Archinect and on social media.
Led by: Fiona McLean and Kate McLean
Location: London and Winchester, UK
Why we're fans: This mother and daughter duo blends texture and natural materials to create breathtaking residential projects with cozy interiors.
Led by: Jane Kim
Location: New York, NY
Why we're fans: Without compromising a building's natural look and interiors, Kim's facade detailing and interior material choice make each residential project a dream. A personal favorite is the Sunset Park Townhouse for its hunter/emerald green tilework and effortlessly clean 19th-century facade detail.
Led by: Janna Kiseleva
Location: Odessa, Ukraine
Why we're fans: Kiseleva was an architect we got in touch with as the war on Ukraine continued over the last week. During our correspondence, her resilience and willingness to share tips on how her fellow Ukrainians could make their spaces safer during bomb attacks speak volumes to her commitment as an architect using her skills for good.
Led by: Juliet Hernandez Eli
Location: New York, NY
Why we're fans: From prefab homes to quaint Brooklyn interiors, Hernandez-Eli toggles between family-oriented and commercial projects seamlessly. A personal favorite are the interior connections of the studio's Upper West Side Residence II.
Led by: Elise DeChard
Location: Detroit, MI
Why we're fans: This all-female design team led by Elise DeChard incorporates a fun aesthetic with design research. A great project to explore is their Hand/Wing project.
Led by: Tosin Oshinowo
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Why we're fans: Established in 2012, cmD+A highlights the architecture marvels of Nigeria and the African continent. Oshinowo and her team value collaboration and community as they continue to develop exciting projects within Nigeria. A simple yet effective project to check out is their Resource Energy Nigeria building.
Led by: Audrey L. Worden along with Alexander G. Worden
Location: Boulder, CO
Why we're fans: The award-winning architecture office is dedicated to fabrication with a specialty in facade design. The studio's work showcases an exciting blend of art, architecture, and technical facade work. A facade system worth exploring is their Facade Block integration.
Led by: Anne-Marie Armstrong along with Andrew Ashby
Location: Ontario, California, and Maine
Why we're fans: The firm blends clean forms and a moody aesthetic to bring elegance and a pop of color to each project. Their most recent project for Death & Company in LA's Arts District is a personal favorite.
Led by: Aziza Chaouni
Location: Toronto, Canada and Fez, Morocco
Why we're fans: A design practice predominantly consisting of women, its founding principal Aziza Chaouni combines architecture, urbanism, and landscape architecture to create projects for communities to thrive. Many of the studio's works consist of civic engagement projects that help empower all through collaborative design methods. An exciting project to check out is the Design Your Dream School Sierra Leone.
Led by: Afaina de Jong
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Why we're fans: Under the leadership of architect Afaina de Jong, this feminist design practice focuses on social and spatial issues. According to de Jong architecture projects should be an "inclusive experience of space." A champion of "international and intersectional discourse" her work highlights community and culture through design projects and architectural exhibitions. A project to check out is Space of Other, exhibited at the Dutch Pavilion during the Venice Biennale.
Led by: Taylor Staten
Location: Chicago, IL
Why we're fans: tns Studio puts its people and community first thanks to the leadership of architect Taylor Staten. With the number of licensed Black architects gradually increasing over the years, Stanten is another great example of a practitioner using her talents to give back to her hometown, South Side of Chicago.
Led by: Lisa Sauvé
Location: Ann Arbor and Detroit, MI
Why we're fans: A powerhouse, Michigan-based firm, this interdisciplinary design studio does it all. From adaptive reuse, interior design projects, and strategic master plans to custom objects and furniture making Lisa Sauvé and her team of having over 100+ projects in completion. A personal favorite is the interiors of their co-working space project for Bamboo Detorit.
While this list is merely a snapshot of the women impacting the architecture and design industry, it's compelling to see the progress made in female representation amongst the profession. Women's History Month is a reminder that there is still much to learn from women in the industry, academia, design writing/criticism, and other design disciplines. In doing so, we must continue to showcase their work and write women into architectural history and digital media archives.
Stay tuned for next week's article featuring the must-follow women of architecture academia.
Katherine is an LA-based writer and editor. She was Archinect's former Editorial Manager and Advertising Manager from 2018 – January 2024. During her time at Archinect, she's conducted and written 100+ interviews and specialty features with architects, designers, academics, and industry ...
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