Female Architects Throughout History

Lady Elizabeth Wilbraham United Kingdom hailed as the first known woman architect or the first lady of architecture.
(1632–1705) Designed grand houses, churches and buildings at a time women weren’t allowed to practice
the art. She became acquainted with the works of Palladio.

Marion Mahony Griffin American architect and artist. She was one of the first licensed female architects in the
(1871–1961) world, and is considered an original member of the Prairie School. The first employee of
Frank Lloyd Wright hired as draftsman. She was instrumental in helping Wright develop his
signature Prairie Style, using her skills as a draftsman to bring to life his visions through dazzling
watercolor drawings.

Elisabeth Whitworth Scott British architect who, a practice specialising in the Scandinavian style. In turn she became an
(1898–1972) assistant to Louis de Soissons, a progressive architect producing buildings in the contemporary
style for the new garden city of Welwyn, Hertfordshire (where she worked on the design for the
Shredded Wheat Factory, now a listed building) and the modernist Oliver Hill.
First women being allowed into the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in 1898.

(Dame) Jane Drew British, English modernist architect and town planner. She qualified at the Architectural
(1911–1996) Association School in London, and prior to World War II became one of the leading exponents
of the Modern Movement in London. Founded an all-women firm in 1940. Works at
architectural firm SOM.

Lina Bo Bardi Italian-born Brazilian architect, one of the most important and expressive architects of
(1914–1992) 20th century Brazilian architecture. Considered one of the most prominent and
consequential Modernist architects, and her prolific oeuvre is appreciated for its simplicity,
and deep contemplation as to the ways in which architecture can also reflect the common,
the vernacular, and the artisanal as an intrinsic part of a contemporary culture.

Norma Merrick Sklarek African American, first black woman to hold an architect license in both New York and
(1926-2012) California, the first black woman to become a member of the American Institute of
Architects – later elected a fellow of the organization. member of the Her notable works
include the United States Embassy in Tokyo, Japan and the Terminal One station at the Los
Angeles International Airport.

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a r c h i t e c t s reference: en.wikipedia.org, heritagecalling.com, womeninconstructionsummit.com, wikiwand.com, joeswindley.wordpress.com,
/pioneeringwomen.bwaf.org., www.archdaily.com, oxfordreference.com, apartmenttherapy.com, google
 Female Architects Throughout History
Sophia Hayden Bennett American architect from Santiago was the first woman to receive an architecture degree in
(1868-1953) 1890 from MIT. She is known for her beautiful designs, which feature Italian Renaissance
detailing, straight-forward massing, and the use of projecting pavilions and skylights. In 1891, at
the age of 21, she entered a competition for the design and execution of the Woman’s Building,
part of Daniel Burnham’s gargantuan World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Her design won
the first prize out of the field of thirteen entries.

British architect , the first female architect in the UK to win an international architectural
Elisabeth Scott
competition with her design for the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.
(1898 –1972)
Scott was a great niece of the architects George Gilbert Scott and George Frederick Bodley,
founders of Watts & Co. Giles Gilbert Scott, the architect of Liverpool Cathedral.

American architect and the founder and leader of Studio Gang (established in 1997), an
Jeanne Gang architecture and urban design practice with offices in Chicago, New York, and San Francisco.
(1964-Current) Gang was first widely recognized for the Aqua Tower, the tallest woman-designed
building in the world at the time of its completion.

Filipino lady architect, the male-dominated architectural profession welcomed the first female
MERCEDES RAFFIÑIAN
(1858-1966) architect in 1934, when Mercedes Raffiñan, a graduate of MIT, passed the board examination.
She earned the distinction as the first woman architect in the history of Philippine
architecture and the rest of Southeast Asia.

LOUISE BLANCHARD BETHUNE American, first woman known to have worked as a professional architect. She became the
(1856-1913) first female associate of the American Institute of Architects. Had the chance to compete
in a design competition for the 1891 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, but unfair
treatment to women led her to decline participation.

Dame Zaha Hadid Iraqi-British architect, artist and designer, recognized as a major figure in architecture of the
(1950–2016) late-20th and early-21st centuries, First Woman to Win the Pritzker Prize 2004. Buildings often
contain huge public spaces and curved lines, creating structures that appear to float. Her work
became associated with the floating curve. Her structures were often built using concrete, glass,
and steel. She is referred to as a ‘starchitect’ and Time Magazine named Hadid among the 100
most influential people on the planet in 2010.
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a r c h i t e c t s reference: wikipedia.org, www.thedecorjournalindia.com, .dezeen.com, united-architects.org, www.geni.com, google