Women in Architecture Leadership: “the new normal” or future amnesia?

Research Project, 2020 – 2023

The Women in Architecture Leadership project starts from the current widespread leadership in architecture by women, with particular prominence and visibility in higher education / schools of architecture. While women in (higher education) leadership could become “the new normal”, as Mimi Zeiger argued in her 2019 Architectural Digest opinion piece, Women in Architecture Leadership addresses possible challenges for the future. Leadership achievements outside design practice are not always measurable in the same way as more tangible contributions through, for example, the drawings, models, writings, and buildings typically associated with practicing architects. The project takes this as an occasion to study broader questions regarding contributions by women in architecture and the consideration of role models through, among others, a study of existing / suitable formats for collecting, publishing, writing, and documenting the contributions by women / creation of role models. To avoid that overlooked or underrepresented contributions remain un(der)recorded, and therefore risk becoming overlooked in future research, the Women in Architecture Leadership  project, inspired by feminist (architecture) historiography, aims to record ongoing important work done by exciting and excellent leaders in architecture in their various capacities. 

Women in Architecture Leadership is funded by the Gender Initiative for Excellence (Genie) at Chalmers: https://www.chalmers.se/en/about-chalmers/Chalmers-for-a-sustainable-future/initiatives-for-gender-equality/gender-initiative-for-excellence/Pages/default.aspx