2024-12-25T13:26:55-05:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/93072348/mecanoo-s-francine-houben-named-aj-woman-architect-of-the-year-2014 Justine Testado 2014-02-07T13:51:00-05:00 >2014-02-10T19:18:21-05:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/b4/b40hrikv8xmx5v3h.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p><em>The Architects' Journal</em>&nbsp;(UK) announced Francine Houben, creative director and founder of Dutch firm&nbsp;<a href="http://archinect.com/mecanoo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mecanoo</a>, as the recipient of the AJ Woman Architect of the Year 2014. The award honors design excellence and strong leadership among women in architecture.</p><p>Houben received the prestigious award in a ceremony at London's Langham Hotel on Feb. 7. Projects of Houben and Mecanoo include the high-profile Library of Birmingham, La Llotja de Lleida, and the Kaap Skil maritime and beachcombers museum.</p><p><br><img title="" alt="" src="http://cdn.archinect.net/images/514x/g3/g3wakz870ipxfixb.jpg"><br><br>Upon receiving the award, Houben said, "'I feel privileged to be a woman, to be a mother and to be an architect, which was not always an easy combination. It was also a privilege to design the Library of Birmingham, here in the UK. Libraries play an essential role in the emancipation of young women all over the world. I&rsquo;m very proud to be able to design more projects with a &lsquo;Dutch touch&rsquo; in the UK. I strongly believe that architecture is about teamwork, about being visionary and supportive at the ...</p>