Join Studio Anyo as we Celebrate Women in Architecture
Here at Studio Anyo, we pride ourselves on pushing the boundaries of design, sustainability, and innovation.
We are proud to have a diverse team that works together to create stunning projects that break the boundaries of modern architecture.
As a firm that thrives on diversity and inclusion, we believe it’s crucial to acknowledge the contributions of women architects who have shaped not only the skyline but also the very fabric of architectural practice in the United Kingdom.
In this blog, we’re going to look at some of the real trailblazers who have shaped the scene of modern architecture, as well as delving into our team and introducing you to some of the women whose amazing work is an integral part of our success.
Let’s take a look.
The Early Trailblazers
The best place to start is right at the beginning, and with the lady who many see as the first woman architect, Lady Elizabeth Wilbraham.
A member of the English aristocracy, the work of Wilbraham is spread throughout England, and she is even thought to have tutored and worked alongside Christopher Wren on many projects.
Wilbraham’s work took place in the 17th century, but it wasn’t until 1898 when the first woman became a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
This was Ethel Charles, who despite facing resistance, used her amazing talent to pave the way for future generations.
Some other notable names are Elisabeth Scott, who designed the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in the early 20th century, as well as Julia Morgan and Eileen Gray who were working on amazing projects in America and Europe at a similar time.
The women on this list were part of a group of emerging talents that was trailblazing the path for women in architecture, and the effects of their work are evident in the industry still today.
Contemporary Icons
Moving on to more modern times, and many female architects have stood on the shoulders of the trailblazers mentioned previously and paved their own way into the world of architecture.
At the top of many people’s list is Zaha Hadid.
Though born in Iraq, Hadid made London her home and the base for her architectural practise.
She could be described as a force of nature who was known for her avant-garde designs that seemed to defy gravity in some instances such as the Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku or the Zaragoza Bridge Pavilion.
A bit closer to home, her work on the London Aquatics Centre is always a sight to behold.
Some other women we think deserve a mention in our list of icons are Amanda Levete, who alongside her firm AL_A have worked on some stunning projects such as the stunning expansion of London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.
Here at Studio Anyo, we are focused on creating stunning buildings with sustainability at the forefront of our design ideas. An architect we get a lot of inspiration from in this regard is Alison Brooks, whose residential projects are always tailored towards building a sense of community and focusing on sustainability.
Why is Female Representation so Important?
Women make up roughly half of the world’s population, yet in a recent study, only 31% of architects listed were women. While the numbers seem to be improving, it still begs the question of why under a third of architects listed themselves as female.
This also lends itself to women in senior positions at architecture firms, where the proportion of women in the highest-ranking jobs was only 20%. While that is a concerning number, this did double from the year before, so there are encouraging signs things are improving.
And it is important that things do continue to improve for many reasons, including:
- Breaking Down Barriers – All of the architects mentioned in this blog have paved a way and forged great careers, and the more women who make their way in this industry the more it will help to further break down barriers. In turn, this will only make this process easier for future generations who want to do the same.
- Creating Role Models – For up-and-coming female architects, the presence of women in prominent roles is inspiring. Looking up to these architects, learning from their journey, and gaining encouragement from their success is vital when finding the will to keep working and pushing forward in your career.
- Social and Cultural Impact – Architecture plays a significant role in shaping the cultural and social fabric of communities. Having architects from all backgrounds and genders is sure to ensure every community is considered and that the whole field of architecture is enriched with various ideas and beliefs.
- Wage Gap Pressure – A recent study found that at 20 architectural organisations (including the RIBA and AA), for every £1 earned by a middle-ranking man, a woman in a similar position earns 83p. This is a drop of 17%, and the more women who can break through and put pressure on things to equal out, the quicker things will turn around and point more towards an equal system.
Studio Anyo
Our team here at Studio Anyo is comprised of talented individuals who are all experts in their own field.
We’d like to introduce you to some of the women who form an integral part of our day-to-day operations.
Katarina Poznic
Let’s start with a founding member of the team here at Studio Anyo.
Katarina has been with us right from the very beginning, and her experience across many sectors of the industry has been integral in our ongoing success.
The role of Katarina is varied as she oversees all aspects of design within the office, whilst also applying her experience to design proposals and project conception.
Not only that, but Katarina also oversees the branding and marketing within the office.
We don’t know where we would be without Katarina, who knows everything there is to know about our business and industry.
Her experience is vast and includes great projects such as the Shoreditch Village residential development which includes our work on the Citizen M hotel.
Kyamiran Resmi
Kyamiran (known as Kemi) joined our team in 2019 and has quickly become a key member.
Kemi has a love for interior design, and this is evident in the work she has done on a number of concepts for hotels such as IQ Bankside and Paris Gardens.
She continues to assist project architects on schemes and designs within the office, as well as lending her many skills to a number of project teams when developing initial designs.
Her work on Meeting House Lane has been integral throughout the project, and we can’t wait to see the work she is planning for the future.
Bingul Cakaci
Bingul is one of the newest members of our team, only joining in 2023.
Despite her short time with us, Bingul has become a key member of the Studio Anyo family, and works with project architects across many different builds to create early schemes.
This is integral work as it paves the way for the whole process, and we couldn’t be happier with the work that Bingul has done so far.
She has played a hand in many of our latest projects and continues to showcase her skills in projects that are soon to begin.
Join us as we Celebrate Women in Architecture
Here at Studio Anyo, we are proud to have a diverse team.
A core part of this is the women that form an integral part of the Studio Anyo process, and we couldn’t be happier to have them on board and see their great work every day.
Want to know more, or would like to discuss a project with our team?
Then get in touch today.