The Architect

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The gender issues surrounding architecture are extroardinarily complex and, frequently, highly emotionally charged. Even the title of this book generated controversy: The original title, The Female Architect, was rejected because it highlighted the fact that the architects whose work is featured here are women, when most want to be considered just as architects. All want their work to be read on its own merits. Architecture grows and develops according to the challenges it faces. Taking up the challenge of refuting the gender divide and welcoming intelligent input, from whatever source, will benefit a profession which, by definition, is serving the people for whom it works and therefore needs to operate within a collaborative framework, one offering equal opportunities according to talent rather than gender. This book celebrates thirty-three extraordinarily talented contemporary architects, architects whose work is representative of the rich variety of architectural styles, and wide range of intellectual and social concerns, to be found among today's practicing women architects. The lives and work of every one of them is of pivotal importance, both because of the intrinsic merit of the work and because the architects themselves are powerful role models, whose influence will be felt for generations to come. - From the Introduction by Maggie Toy This book has the urgency of alerting people to the great contributions made by women architects to contemporary architecture, architects whose exceptional vision and design expertise have provided landmark expressions of modern culture. Underlying this celebration of their achievements is the ongoing struggle of these women to achieve professional parity with men in a field long dominated by males. At this time in history, it is important to show solidarity with women architects, in order to advance their progression to professional equality. When women architects no longer have to remind us that they do not want to be considered one of the best "female architects" but simply one of the best architects, when unqualified recognition is given where recognition is due, then things will be in the right place. Looking optimistically toward that future, we can place an exciting dual trust in the parallel revolutions that are occurring in our times, where more women are taking strong creative leadership roles in architecture and at the same time avant-garde design is expanding to new horizons. When they succeed and unite, the impact is awesome. We are transformed both individually and globally into a totally new, magnificent reality. - From the Preface by Peter Pran, AIA, MNAL