Abstract
After Francisco Franco’s death, the process of democratisation of public institutions was a key factor in the evolution of the architectural profession in Spain. The approval of the creation of neighbourhood associations, the first municipal governments, and the modernisation of Spanish universities are some examples of this. Moreover, feminist and environmental activism from some parts of Spanish society was relevant for socio-political change that affected women in particular. The last decade of Franco’s Regime coincided with the first generation of women that graduated from the Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB). From 1964 to 1975, 73 female students graduated as architects—the first one was Margarita Brender Rubira (1919–2000) who validated her degree obtained in Romania in 1962. Some of these women became pioneers in different fields of the architectural profession, such as Roser Amador in architectural design, Alrun Jimeno in building technologies, Anna Bofill in urban design and planning, Rosa Barba in landscape architecture or Pascuala Campos in architectural design, and teaching with gender perspective. This article presents the contributions of these women to the architecture profession in relation to these socio-political advances. It also seeks—through the life stories, personal experiences, and personal visions on professional practice—to highlight those ‘other stories’ that have been left out of the hegemonic historiography of Spanish architecture.
Highlights
Female Architects and DiscriminationBoth historiographical narratives and oral accounts of architecture have discriminated against, excluded, omitted and rendered invisible female architects and designers
A falsely imagined narrative is constructed in which female architects either did not exist, or if their existence was recognised, they were not considered good enough to stand out or be compared to the genius of the ‘maestros’ that have marked this history of architecture and the city
In the social and political context described above, came other accounts and female expressions of architecture, voices emanating from the Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB), lost or omitted under the influence of the dominant accounts of the postmodern period and in contrast to the prominence granted to male architects
Summary
Both historiographical narratives and oral accounts of architecture have discriminated against, excluded, omitted and rendered invisible female architects and designers. A falsely imagined narrative is constructed in which female architects either did not exist, or if their existence was recognised, they were not considered good enough to stand out or be compared to the genius of the ‘maestros’ that have marked this history of architecture and the city This discrimination is evident in women’s exclusion as historical subjects, and in the function or eminence that historians have assigned them in the exercising of their profession. Her preoccupation with the analysis of constructed space and reflection on feminism and architecture went hand in hand with her personal life experiences She participated in the organisation of the Feminist Days in Vigo and attended others in San Sebastian and Granada.
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