Where Are Women Architects? A Reflection on the Situation in Switzerland
Ilaria Micale Ilaria Micale

Where Are Women Architects? A Reflection on the Situation in Switzerland

In 2016, architectural historian Despina Stratigakos published Where Are Women Architects? Through five chapters, the book explores, among other topics, the invisibilization of women in architectural history, inequality in professional offices, and their representation in architectural awards. Stratigakos reflects on how male-dominated norms have shaped the profession and challenges us to question whether women should truly aspire to the same working conditions as their male colleagues.

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Shopping for Freedom: Women, Consumerism, and the Public Sphere
Ilaria Micale Ilaria Micale

Shopping for Freedom: Women, Consumerism, and the Public Sphere

Did you know that 19th-century department stores played a key role in women’s conquest of public space? Far more than mere shopping destinations, they were "miniature cities" designed to offer safety and freedom at a time when the streets were largely off-limits to women.

These temples of fashion, inspired by World Exhibitions, allowed women to wander freely, assert their taste and status, and navigate a carefully controlled public space. Yet, this newfound freedom came with a double edge: it introduced new social pressures tied to fashion and consumerism.

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A House Under the Sun: The comic to discover the architect Eileen Gray
Ilaria Micale Ilaria Micale

A House Under the Sun: The comic to discover the architect Eileen Gray

"Eileen Gray - A House Under the Sun"  is a comic that pays homage to the E-1027 villa of Eileen Gray, a key figure in modern design. Through the vibrant illustrations of Zosia Dzierzawska and the sensitive texts of Charlotte Malterre-Barthes, the reader delves into the controversial history of the villa in which the architect Le Corbusier died in 1965.

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The Imperial Roots of Architectural Education
Ilaria Micale Ilaria Micale

The Imperial Roots of Architectural Education

The method of teaching architecture in universities finds its roots in the Western society of the 18th century. Although the first official school of architecture, the Royal Academy of Architecture of Paris was established at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in 1671, it wasn’t until the late 18th century that the discipline began to be taught in universities throughout Europe. More significantly, it wasn’t until the 20th century that architectural education reached so-called "developing" countries at an academic level.

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