From an undulating water-facing museum in Lisbon to a green school in the Rajasthan desert, here are 10 incredible structures that have benefited from a woman's touch
Historically, women’s contributions to the home have been in keeping it, not building it. But times are changing with the increase of female architects and more widespread recognition of their exceptional work.
For progress to continue, it's essential to look back to see how much these exceptional female architects have achieved.
From Amanda Levete’s undulating MAAT Museum in Lisbon to the “floating” São Paulo Museum of Art by Lina Bo Bardi, we celebrate the projects and their architects that were trailblazers in the field.
Read more: 8 designing women: Meet the first ladies of Malaysian design
1. Library of Birmingham, UK, by Francine Houben of Mecanoo Architecten
Located in Palazzos Centenary Square, the largest public square in the city, the Library of Birmingham was designed to be a People’s Palace, a centre for learning, information and culture to unite people of all ages and backgrounds.
The building’s distinctive facade, a delicate filigree skin of interlocking circles, was inspired by the metalwork tradition in this former industrial city. Its cantilevered structure provides shade for visitors below and acts as a balcony with a garden to be enjoyed above.
Designed by Francine Houben, creative director of multiple award-winning Dutch firm Mecanoo Architecten and one of its founding partners, the building has a BREEAM Excellent rating (falling into the top 10 per cent of UK new non-domestic buildings) and won BBC Britain’s Favourite New Building 2014, among many other awards.
See also: See How a Designer Colourfully Transforms a Museum’s Furniture Archives