On 7 February Francine Houben was named Woman Architect of the Year 2014 in the UK.

Christine Murray, editor of organizer Architects’ Journal comments: “The awards celebrate design excellence and leadership - qualities needed to succeed as an architect - and especially among women.” Francine Houben is very honoured to be awarded the title: “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’m very proud to be able to design more projects with a ‘Dutch touch’ in the UK. I strongly believe that
architecture is about teamwork, about being visionary and supportive at the same time. Women are especially good at that.”

Francine Houben (1955) is creative director of Netherlands-based Mecanoo.

The Library of Birmingham was completed in 2013 and is one of the highest-profile projects in the UK.It welcomed one million visitors in its first three months. Francine Houben is the only Dutch person to be featured on this years’ list of Britain’s 500 most influential people by Debrett’s and The Sunday Times, who credited her for her unconventional approach to architecture.