Envisioning Cities Designed by Women: A New Perspective

The world as we know it has been predominantly shaped by men. For thousands of years, men have excelled in creating temples, fortresses, castles, stadiums, skyscrapers, and highway interchanges. Office thermostats are set for men in jackets, double doors require significant force to open, and parking garages often harbor hidden dangers. Urban life, in many aspects, is inconvenient for women.

The Vision of a Non-Sexist City

Nearly 40 years ago, urban historian Dolores Hayden published an essay titled “What Would a Non-Sexist City Be Like?” Hayden argued that traditional zoning confined women to their homes and physically separated them from the “working world.” To address this, she proposed increasing residential density and mixing workplaces with residential areas. Decades later, as cities have evolved into chaotic metropolises, the question has shifted: What would cities look like if they were designed by women?

Statistics and Challenges

Although there are few famous women architects, 40% of architecture school graduates are women. Like in many fields, they face the legacy of centuries of discrimination. According to Equity for Design, the profession suffers from significant pay inequality and frequent harassment. Fortunately, in 2018, architecture is no longer considered a “non-female” profession, and more women are expected to join the industry.

The New Generation of Urban Designers

The new generation of urban designers is not focused on specific objects. As Kate Orff, a landscape architect, puts it:

For me, the idea of starting work was not to conquer the world and build the biggest park. It’s about becoming part of a network.

Architecture is not a single profession but a fragmented collection of specializations. Some architects focus on technical details, from door hinges to ventilation systems. Others manage contractors. Only a few can envision a new building and see it through to completion in concrete and steel.

Kate Orff: A Diverse Architectural Profession

Kate Orff exemplifies the diversity within architecture. As a landscape architect, her work goes beyond designing flower beds and lawns for the wealthy. She works on shorelines, prepares buildings for climate change, and develops solutions to protect against destructive storms. Her tools include oysters, crabs, silt, and volunteers—artificial reefs that can soften hurricane impacts and protect cities.

Technological Innovations

Those entering architecture today have many role models. Amale Andraos, dean of Columbia University’s School of Architecture, gained professional recognition a decade ago with her urban farm project at the PS1 exhibition. Initially criticized for not resembling a typical skyscraper, urban farming concepts have since gained traction.

Other architects, like Wendy Davis and Sarah Bell, have presented similar concepts. Neri Oxman, a researcher at MIT, developed a technology where silkworms produce a protein-based material similar to plastic. Her work, defined as “ecological design,” applies biological research and 3D printing technology to architecture. Oxman views the world and environment as constantly changing organisms, drawing inspiration from biological forms and textures for her projects.

Addressing Needs, Not Just Trends

Women designers do not merely build “fashionable houses;” they focus on meeting needs. As noted, Le Corbusier’s human-scale measurements were based on a two-meter-tall figure, which does not account for women or children. Companies founded by women may not secure projects for office towers or airports, but their smaller-scale work deeply influences the “feel” of a city.

Claire Weisz: Long-Term Urban Evolution

Claire Weisz’s company, WXY, restores and redesigns road surfaces damaged by Hurricane Sandy and addresses technological disaster impacts. Women-led companies also work on long-term projects like urban parks and charging points for electric vehicles. These initiatives, requiring decades to realize, will benefit future generations.

At the beginning of my career, I created luxury apartments and restaurants. Many old materials and previous works were demolished and discarded. At that moment, I realized I wanted to do work that could be transformed into something useful over time, not just destroyed.

Weisz’s concept does not have a final product but involves several stages in the city’s evolution.

Breaking Stereotypes

Architect Fiona Scott challenges stereotypes:

There is a assumption that buildings designed by women will be curved and colorful. Although I don’t think many women dream of designing a massive tower.

Houses with gardens, often seen as ideal, require more maintenance than apartments and can reinforce traditional gender roles. Women architects focus on public spaces like squares, parks, ponds, and pools where people can feel comfortable.

Creating Safe Urban Environments

Currently, large cities, particularly in Russia, lack safe environments for women. Debates on social media about breastfeeding in public and statistics showing women cyclists’ vulnerability to road accidents highlight the need for public discussion on urban environments. Such discussions are more crucial than jokes about the resemblance of Zaha Hadid’s projects to certain anatomical features.

For further reading on women in architecture, visit Architectural Record.