Women architects have been relatively difficult to find in the annals of architecture history. They have not put their names on as many large and spectacular projects as their male colleagues, nor have they designed our city halls, banks and churches. Nonetheless, the architectural achievements and breakthroughs of women architects have greatly shaped society and the world we live in today.
Sara Hatla Krogsgaard
The entire exhibition is inspired by author Virginia Woolf’s seminal “A Room of One’s Own” from 1929, according said Krogsgaard. Woolf’s main theme is that if women are to be able to create anything of importance, they must be financially independent. They must have a room of their own, in both a physical and metaphorical sense – and not just for the sake of women, but for the good of all.
As part of the exhibition, the museum asked three prominent contemporary women architects of today offer their take on what “A Room of One’s Own” means to them – Tatiana Bilbao (Mexico), Siv Helene Stangeland of Helen & Hard (Norway) and Débora Mesa from Ensamble Studio (Spain) to create pavilions for a section called A Room of One's Own.
"The Room" by Débora Mesa. Women in Architecture exhibition with Ensamble Studio, Tatiana Bilbao Estudio, Helen & Hard. Photograph by Laura Stamer.
The most interesting pavilion was designed by Débora Mesa from Ensamble Studio, was simply named "The Room" and was the result of a collaboration between the women and men on the studio's team.
Made from paper and cardboard and created as "a space of light and entertainment," the pavilion isn't an enclosed space but rather an exploration of what a room is.
"In The Room, the floor curves to become a wall, wall curves to become ceiling and ceiling becomes the floor. Walls become windows and windows become doors that look onto the street, the woods and the sky.
As the basic elements of a room – floor, wall, ceiling, window, door – get redefined, The Room breaks with the preconceived idea of what a room is and instead explores new meanings and potential."
As the basic elements of a room – floor, wall, ceiling, window, door – get redefined, The Room breaks with the preconceived idea of what a room is and instead explores new meanings and potential."
"Body & Mind Spa" by Helene Stangeland. Women in Architecture exhibition with Ensamble Studio, Tatiana Bilbao Estudio, Helen & Hard. Photograph by Laura Stamer.
Helene Stangeland from Norwegian studio Helen & Hard's design, meanwhile, is more inward-looking. The prototype for a project developed together with artist Marina Abramovic as a meditative space, "Body & Mind Spa" is constructed from layered arched beams made from off-cuts of wooden flooring.
Helen & Hard found inspiration for the spatial design of the pavilion, in Turkish baths (Hammams).
"Working on the Body & Mind Spa for Marina Abramovic we were inspired by Turkish hammams, with the central space having vaulted roofs with overhead lighting and surrounding niches for different body treatments."
"A Room, You and Us" by Tatiana Bilbao. Women in Architecture exhibition with Ensamble Studio, Tatiana Bilbao Estudio, Helen & Hard. Photograph by Laura Stamer.
The third pavilion, by Tatiana Bilbao, named its pavilion – which comprises a number of circular brick structures – "A Room, You and Us". The design was created as a space for self-intimacy.
"This intimate space is where we can rest and dream. It is a place to reflect, read, discover, and create. And for Woolf, it was a place where she could write. In line with Woolf, we believe that having access to an intimate space is necessary to ensure that individuals have the right to choose how they want to live their lifes."
