Women and Architecture. - “Architecture for, by and of women”

It was the eve of Women’s day, I was contemplating a topic for my college magazine. It didn’t take me long to put two and two together and come up with a subject that is very relevant and topical today. Gender equality (or lack of it) is all over the media as if it’s a flavor of the season. I wanted it get more personal – “Women and Architecture”.  I wanted to briefly explore what is it for a woman to be an Architect and how Architecture influences or is influenced by women. On the former, we need not go very far. The institute in which I study is governed and run by two women who have made a mark for themselves in this field. We also been witnessing more and more women opting for Architecture as a profession, even when they have other choices. The essence of successful architecture lies in how it integrates and balances the need, desire and aspirations of the user with the design principles. In this regard, the more women we have in this field , the better it is to bring out the nuances and perspectives that women value and cherish in an empathetic way – after all women being half the population are expected to use and occupy the buildings and structures as much as men, at least statistically !!. Hence influence of women, on women is an important facet of holistic architecture.

Architecture is often branded and perceived as a male aligned domain, as it demands long working hours and field work to be successful. In our social milieu, it is definitely a significant stretch for a woman to balance professional demands with domestic necessity. These constraints should not deter women. In fact they should take advantage of the technology improvements and tools we have at our disposal to overcome the challenges and bring out the best in them. Thankfully this is not a man vs. woman conflict. Men are increasingly accepting and encouraging women with, huge focus on diversity and inclusivity. Women are now uniquely placed to prove their mettle in architecture, especially when they bring to the table diverse thoughts and creativity to make the design more meaningful and holistic both in terms of functionality and aesthetics.  

Architecture for women. People, women especially, have preferences. Since they face many challenges every day, both physically and mentally, it is imperative that architects design spaces in which women feel comfortable. Technically there are three things to consider when it comes to designing spaces that are compatible with a woman’s needs.

Safety, comfort and accessibility. First and foremost, safety. A woman needs to feel secure in any space she resides in. Be it her workplace, any public location, or even her own home. Thanks to the technological advancements we have today, many forms of security systems have been developed and are in operation around us. Lighting, ease of movement, general visibility of the entire space and proper sanitation facilities are some factors that play a crucial role in designing safe spaces. A woman’s fear is always based on reality. They know when and where they feel unsafe. So the spaces designed should reduce their fear of victimization. But one has to be careful because the planning of such a space has the potential to either reinforce gender inequality or the advance gender equality; and we’ve suffered enough from the former.

Secondly, comfort. A woman has many phases in her life such as pregnancy that make special demands on them. These different stages are endured by women in the bravest way possible; and these aren’t easy to do so. To make experience easier, comfort is very essential. Special spaces and furniture designed for pregnant women is one fine example. Some lavatories are designed in such a way that it wouldn’t be much of a hassle for them, especially in the advanced stage. Everything, from the design of her transportation space to the material used in her favorite cushions matter. 

Lastly, accessibility. In accordance with human anatomy, the average height of a woman is lesser than that of a man. So spaces should be designed in such a way that it is easy for her to access different heights. Elevators and escalators are all mediums of accessibility. Trivial as it may sound; latches, knobs, handles etc. play a very important role in accessibility. An architect should consider all these factors when she or he is designing spaces for women. After all, women are the architects of the society.

Architecture by women. History has seen many commendable female architects who have come up with amazing creations. They have broken the glass ceiling! Everyone knows Zaha Hadid, the first female recipient of the prestigious Pritzker Prize, Avant-Garde of this era. The most recent example is of Sandra Barclay, who won the woman architect of the year 2018 award for her work on the Museo de Sitio de Paracas, a red-pigmented archaeological museum designed to replace another that was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake. Closer home, Sheila Sri Prakash was the first Indian woman to have established her own firm and the first Indian architect invited to serve on the World Economic Forum’s Design Innovation Council. She was a pioneer of environmentally sustainable architecture and had designed a home with recycled material. These women are stellar examples and major inspiration to budding architects like us.  If it weren’t for Brinda Sommaya , I wouldn’t have thought of this topic to write upon. 

As we progress and spread our wings, it will not be long before we start witnessing specialisms and forums that comprises of women architects who will define the future of architecture in the changing times and environment.  I would love to call this democratization  as “ Architecture – Of women “.