In Architecture, Women Make Their Mark

Making inroads in male-dominated fields like architecture is an exercise in patience and passion for women. The obstacles are pervasive—from simply being heard as an equal in a room full of men, to hitting the glass ceiling, to ignoring perceived stereotypes. Despite it all, however, architecture is actually experiencing a sea change as more female architects make lasting marks on landscapes around the world.A documentary celebrating a handful of these dynamic women was screened at the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill on Saturday. Directed by Ultan Guilfoyle, “Making Space/5 Women Changing the Face of Architecture” illuminates the talent of five world-renowned female architects and how they succeeded in a profession long dominated by men. It also features interviews with Hans Ulrich Obrist, curator at London’s Serpentine Gallery, and author and architecture critic Paul Goldberger, among others.

Following the screening in a room mostly full of women, co-producers Alice Shure and Janice Stanton were on hand to answer questions and meet with audience members during a reception.

“The Parrish seemed like the perfect fit in so many ways; it’s so much about architecture,” said Janice Stanton, adding, “Both [Alice Shure] and I have strong ties to this part of the world, so it was meaningful to have it at the Parrish.”

“Female architects are sort of invisible in … the world at large and we wanted to bring visibility to them. They’re deserving of it,” said Ms. Shure. “The passion that they have for what they do is very inspiring … we wanted to celebrate them.”

The film begins with New York-based architect Annabel Selldorf, who avoided a potential run-in with the glass ceiling altogether by starting her own business even though she had no prior work experience in another firm—a rare endeavor for either gender. But she has been successful ever since, having worked on cultural, institutional, commercial and residential projects, including houses in Sagaponack, Sag Harbor, Wainscott and Cutchogue.

From New York to Paris, architect Odile Decq maintained strength and perseverance despite a rocky start, staying true to herself throughout. Her main priority has always been the people who use her buildings. “The minimum duty of an architect is to think about the human being,” she said. One of her prized projects was the design of the restaurant L’Opéra at Opera Garnier in Paris. Meanwhile, world-famous London architect Farshid Moussavi, who designed the celebrated Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland, advocates for individuality in the face of uniformity. “Architecture is a creative field and what comes with that is thinking differently,” she said. She does not try to be like “one of the guys” in a room full of men. “My strength is my difference,” she says in the film.

Moving from designing buildings to shaping the space around them, the film tips its hat to landscape architecture and the work of Seattle and London-based architect Kathryn Gustafson. It also notes a stereotype that once persisted for women in this particular genre: a generalization that they were simply gardening. Of course, Ms. Gustafson has profoundly altered landscapes and public spaces, including the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain in London, and the Gardens of Imagination (Jardins de l’Imaginaire) in France, one of the first contemporary garden and destination parks.

Finally, architect Marianne McKenna, whose body of work includes the beloved Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, has been unfazed by gender discrimination. “It never occurred to me that it wasn’t an advantage to be a man,” she said. She also decided to juggle an extremely demanding work schedule with having a family—something many female architects have to choose between, given the field’s endless hours of work.

“I think women have a lot of choices. I think it’s a choice to have a child. It’s a wonderful choice, but it brings a dilemma,” said Ms. Moussavi, pointing to the difficulty in sustaining the intense and “creative atmosphere” of architecture.

Still, women forge ahead, striking a balance, making sacrifices, and navigating uncharted waters. “Architecture has only seriously been open to women in the last generation,” said Mr. Goldberger.

In many ways, these pioneering women will serve as the role models they never had for future generations.