ISSUE 3 :: WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH!
WHAT’S HAPPENING? WHEN, WHERE, WHY
April 2nd: 2024 Eleanore Pettersen Lecture: ELIZABETH DILLER
The Great Hall at The Cooper Union Dedicated to the voice of women in architecture, this year’s guest in this lecture series is one of the most influential women architect of our time. Join Elizabeth Diller, Cooper Union alumna and co-founder of DS+R to learn more about her great projects, including the “adaptive reuse of an obsolete, industrial rail infrastructure into the High Line, a 1.5 mile-long public park”.
April 2nd: Designing for An Aging Population: The Female Perspective AIA New York, Center for Architecture
With the increasing number of women in the architectural and real-estate field, among others, it is important to consider the contribution of their perspective in designing spaces. By focusing on design for aging, this panel features women in multiple fields which will share their perspective and promote a universal and inclusive atmosphere in the design world.
Until April 26th: 11 WOMEN IN INTERIOR DESIGN
NYSID Gallery, 170 East 70th Street, 10021 New York, NY
Focusing on residential design, this gallery has carefully selected and curated spaces that showcase the trailblazing women designers who defined and evolved the interior design field. Pioneers of the field were also advocates for feminism and women’s rights, supporting and standing up for one another to defend their rights. Visit the NYSID gallery to see up close how these women altered the interior design field indefinitely.
WHAT’S NEW?
WHY DO WE CARE?
SHENZHEN WOMEN’S CENTER |
Shenzhen, China
WHO: MVRDV
WHAT: Mixed-use Women & Children’s Center
WHEN: 2023
This mixed-use center started as a renovation project of an old dilapitating building, transforming it into a vibrant, eco-friendly hub dedicated to women’s empowerment. It is a significant milestone in adaptive reuse, showcasing a new era of repurposing structures. Using the pre-existing structure, a bright colorful facade was added including new programs that prioritize resources and support for mothers and their children.
MARS X-HOUSE |
Mars, The Moon, and beyond—!
RAJKUMARI RATNAVATI GIRL’S SCHOOL |
Salkha, India
WHO: Diana Kellogg Architects
WHAT: School for Underprivileged Girls
WHEN: 2023
The Rajkumari Ratnavati Girl’s School targets the empowerment and education of over 400 underprivileged girls in Rajasthan’s Thar Desert, where female literacy struggles at 32%. Looking at different feminine symbols of strength across cultures, the design is composed of 3 ovals, used to symbolize feminity. The school along with 2 other buildings, is also apart of the GYAAN Center, which aims to cultivate economic independence among women through education and artisanal skills.
WHO: SEArch+ (Led by Melodie Yashar) /ApisCor WHAT: 3D printed habitat suitable for Mars WHEN: 2019
The Mars X-house, aims to create sustainable shelters for Lunar, Martian, and beyond missions, utilizing on-site resources and autonomous robotics. Using resources found on site, female-led team, SEArch+ designed a durable habitat exceeding radiation standards, prioritizing crew health and established a connection with the environment, pioneering innovative space habitation. The project actively pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in architecture, while advancing our understanding of the universe.
WHAT’S NEXT? WHO WON?
ARCHITECTURE MASTERPRIZE:
2023
WHAT: Honors designs in the disciplines of architecture, interior design, and landscape with the goal of advancing the appreciation of architecture worldwide. WINNER: The Lodsi Community Project by Morphogenesis WHATS COOL: Nestled in the serene Himalayan foothills along the banks of the river Ganges, the Lodi Community Project for Forest Essentials in Rishikesh, India, stands as a testament to visionary architectural innovation. Led by a dynamic duo of female architects, Ar. Sonali Rastogi and Ar. Aarushi Juneja, this project embodies the transformative potential of women in the architecture. The architecture integrates passive design strategies and indigenous construction techniques, resulting in a harmonious relationship between the built environment and its surroundings.
TATIANA BILBAO | Architect
Renowned for her innovative, socially conscious designs, Tatiana Bilbao stands as a beacon of transformative architecture.
As the founder of Tatiana Bilbao Estudio, her work epitomizes a harmonious blend of local context and global vision.
Notably, her Sustainable Housing Prototype in Mexico emerges as a solution to the nation’s pressing social housing crisis.
With construction costs ranging from $8,000 to $14,000, these homes offer affordability without compromising quality.
Alongside this groundbreaking initiative, her Ajijic House showcases her unparalleled talent in crafting dynamic, site-responsive dwellings.
Through Bilbao’s visionary approach, architecture becomes a catalyst for societal change, enriching lives while honoring the environment.
New Tech | LIVING ARCHITECTURE
Imagine buildings that breathe, heal, and adapt like living organisms.
Meet Living Architecture, a groundbreaking innovation spearheaded by Professor Rachel Armstrong at Newcastle University.
With Living Architecture, buildings come alive, integrating living organisms like bacteria and algae into their very structure. This revolutionary technology not only promises self-repairing and self-sustaining structures but also heralds a new era of sustainable design.
Professor Armstrong’s visionary research challenges conventional notions of architecture, offering a glimpse into a future where our built environment harmonizes with nature in unprecedented ways. Get ready to rethink what buildings can be with Living Architecture.