the feminine touch
who won this year’s Sterling Prize just goes to show we can contend with the ‘big boys’
...in fact let’s make that redundant –and say now we are all big ‘people’.
Q
Do you think that men and women design in specific ways? Can you tell
Brent Birth Centre: designed by Barbara Weiss
of experience when I started also. I have found that being a woman in this industry isn’t hard, being an ambitious woman in this industry can prove rather different. I am certainly not going to sit around and act the ‘disadvantaged sex’; there are women who are great at their job and those who aren’t. Unfortunately when the spotlight is on the female gender stomping her feet and demanding to be treated the same, then she must take the good with the bad, work harder not to fail.
Q
How has the perception of women architects changed?
BW: It is much less unusual for women to be respected professionals, but there is still a long way to go.
TS: I think it has changed from both sides of the camp. Much of the groundwork has been put in by women in the past years in terms of gaining respect within the industry which makes it easier for those entering the arena. Men have become more accepting of our gender in this context and women have realised that they can make a valuable contribution to the industry. Young male and female architects coming up in the ranks have seen larger classes of graduates with a greater contingent of female architects. I think much of the new attitudes that will be fostered by these people will develop a more equality- based profession where the male domination will become a thing of the past. Time is a wonderful thing and women like Zaha Hadid
Gateshead housing project by Tanja Smith
if a project has been led by a woman, just by looking at the concept? BW: This is a very tricky question…A good architect is a good architect. I suspect women and men might be interested in different aspects of detailing or feel more in tune with different types of briefs, but this is cultural and not necessarily something that will not change in the future. I think the new generation of young women architects (including my own daughter!) will hopefully have a very promising future.
TS: It’s like asking if you can recognise if the clothes you are wearing are Gucci, Armani or Dolce and Gabana
...the answer is usually (for those in the know)
yes....they have a signature design style – but ask which of these are women or men? Design can be sexless, the same palette of materials (arguably) are at each of the designers disposal – how they express these in the terms of space creation and texture will be down to, (amongst budget constraints), their own essence and influences. I think ‘the feminine touch’ can be lost or accentuated but only as a natural part of the design process.
Q
If you could do any project, no limitations, anywhere in the world,
where and what would it be? BW: I have always wanted to design the ultimate hotel – not a very expensive one, but a very wonderful one, Generally, I am attracted by all kinds of variations on the theme of residential typologies – hostels, hospitals and student housing being among those.
TS: I imagine most architects want to design their own dream house and I definitely want to do that – once I figure out my final design style for my final destination called HOME. I would also love to create a fantastic space and home for orphans- so one for charity. I’m fortunate that GRADONARCHITECTURE is involved with the building of an orphanage and accommodation block in Mhabra, a remote village in Uganda. We’ve got students from Newcastle University who come into the studio for mentoring and design development from us so for now I’m able to achieve some of my ‘If’ project.
I think places like Dubai where anything seems to go would be a good sandbox to experiment in. They’ve already designed the revolving building, The Dynamic Tower, with car elevators etc so I think I have some more dreaming to do but whatever my dream project is it would have to be iconic.
Q
Other than architecture, what is one of your biggest passions?
BW: Cooking (and classical music!).
TS: Travel ... if there was a job that paid for one to travel and explore on your own terms, I’d probably be first in line.
Gateshead housing project by Tanja Smith
Selfridges, Birmingham, designed by Amanda Levete
28 Architects Choice
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