Pioneering Women in Architecture. Influential Female Architects in Barcelona You Should Know
Mucho ha llovido desde que en 1936 Matilde Ucelay se licenciase en la Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid y se convirtiese en la primera mujer arquitecta de nuestro país. La siguiente en lograrlo fue Rita Fernández Queimadelos, en 1940. Y podría haber sido antes, pero el estallido de la Guerra Civil le obligó a posponer sus estudios. Ellas fueron las pioneras. Con ellas comenzó un goteo de mujeres que supieron hacerse un hueco en un mundo de hombres y que consiguieron dedicarse a la arquitectura. Afortunadamente el goteo de mujeres arquitectas se ha convertido en un buen caudal que ha dado a nuestro país auténticos referentes que comienzan ya a ser estudiados y analizados por los estudiantes de nuestro tiempo. Por eso, en el Día Internacional de la Mujer Trabajadora queremos hablaros de Arquitectas de Barcelona que debes conocer.
Carme Pinós (Barcelona, 1954)
A still active reference that must not be missing from our list. Their initial stage was linked to the figure of Enric Miralles, who was a university colleague, husband, and partner until 1991. Together they founded a studio that gained international recognition. From that period, their most famous creations include the Igualada Cemetery, the Archery facilities designed for Barcelona'92, the La Mina Social Center, the Icària Avenue canopies, or the Morella School-Home, for which they jointly received the National Architecture Award (1995). Before that, they had received other distinctions such as the FAD Architecture Award, the FAD Interior Design Award, or the Ciutat de Barcelona Award.
Following her breakup, Pinós decided to set up her own architecture studio, through which she has brought the name of Catalan architecture to various countries in Europe and America. Since then, her firm has designed projects for housing, offices, hotels, facilities, sports centers, educational centers, as well as other urban planning in general. In addition to covering the entire national territory with her work, her stamp can also be found in France, Italy, Germany, Mexico, and Cuba. To name a few, the Zona Universitaria metro station on Line 9, the CaixaFórum building in Zaragoza, or the Torrevieja Maritime Promenade in Alicante.
That prolific solo career has earned her distinctions as renowned as the National Prize for Architecture and Urban Space or the Creu de Sant Jordi. In addition, Pinós has been recognized as an honorary member by the AIA, the American Institute of Architects.
Benedetta Tagliabue (Milan, 1963)
Although born in Italy, we include Benedetta Tagliabue in this list since her work is very present in the current physiognomy of our city. After studying in Venice and completing a PhD in New York, she settled in Barcelona in 1989. In our city, she began collaborating with Enric Miralles, with whom she would eventually establish the Miralles Tagliabue EMBT studio in 1994.
Together, they designed their own studio, as well as unique works such as the current Gas Natural building, the new terraces of Barceloneta, the Santa Caterina Market, the Diagonal Mar Park, or the acoustic panels of the Gran Via at its northern entrance to Barcelona. Internationally, they are known for the construction of the new Scottish Parliament, the Spanish Pavilion at the 2010 Expo held in Shanghai, where the studio has opened a branch to cover projects arising in Asia.
Carme Pigem (Olot, 1962)
Founder of RCR Arquitectes Studio along with Ramón Vilalta and Rafael Aranda. She has been awarded the most prestigious accolade in the world of architecture: the Pritzker Prize, received in 2017. Her works are all characterized by the interrelation they establish with the landscape in which they are located. For her, architecture must evolve towards beauty, as functionality is ephemeral. This connection between creation and its environment is present in all types of constructions, from restaurants and wineries to pavilions and sports venues, including public facilities such as nurseries, libraries, or cultural centers. To mention one, the Sant Antoni-Joan Oller Library, which together with the Cándida Pérez retirement home and gardens form a unit in the Raval neighborhood of Barcelona. In addition to the aforementioned Pritzker, Pigem's work has also been recognized with the Gold Medal of the French Academy of Architecture (2015) or the National Culture Award in Architecture from the Generalitat (2005).
Eva Franch i Gilabert (Barcelona, 1978)
The youngest on our list today. Entering her 40s, we can say that this Catalan architect based in New York has had a meteoric rise. She was educated at the Delft University of Technology (Netherlands) and at the ETS Architecture of the UPC, in Barcelona. Graduating with honors, she continued her education at Princeton, where she received the Suzanne Kolarik Underwood Prize in 2007. Since then, she has combined teaching, research, and architecture, as well as representing the Storefront for Art and Architecture in New York, of which she is the director. This non-profit gallery is dedicated to promoting innovative positions in architecture, art, and design through exhibitions, projects, events, and publications.
Winner of the FAD Award for emerging architects, her immense talent and her transgressive vision of architecture, considering that architecture should adapt to the contemporary social climate, have earned her international recognition that she has not enjoyed in her country of origin, where she has only given one lecture, at the Architecture Congress organized by the COAC in 2016. Recently, Franch has made headlines for being chosen as the director of the AA School, the oldest independent school of Architecture in the United Kingdom, founded in 1847.
Not all who should be are here, but all who are here should be. Like the examples mentioned here, there are many other women who are gradually making a space for themselves in the sector, and who, before long, will sweep the awards, recognitions, and the designs of tomorrow. One only needs to visit any school of architecture to see for themselves.
