The number of women in UK architecture firms is falling, and many urbanists are worried by the ‘very, very male-dominated’ worlds of planning and construction.
So how would cities differ if women designed them?
Heydar Aliyev Center, Baku, Azerbaijan, designed by Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher with Saffet Kaya Bekiroglu.
“I hate to stereotype,” says architect Fiona Scott.
“Male architects are often quite sensitive, artistic people and any suggestion that buildings designed by women are more curvy, tactile or colourful is wrong. But I don’t think there are many women who think, ‘Oh, my ideal project would be a massive tower.’
“It’s a mistake to think women aren’t capable of having grand ideas,” she adds – even if such ideas are often associated with big egos.
She mentions Lina Bo Bardi, whose centenary is celebrated this year in Brazil and Italy, and multiple-prize-winner Shelley McNamara.
The article looks at female architects’ role in urban architecture and how women would design city spaces.
