Financial Times - Wanted: more architectural careers designed for women

This month Zoë Berman, co-founder and director of Studio Berman was interviewed for the Financial Times’ Women in Business segment.

Journalist Helen Barrett interviewed female architects including Jeanne Gang founder of Studio Gang, Jeanne Gang, Cécilia Gross of VenhoevenCS, Alison Brooks, Principal and Creative Director of Alison Brooks Architects and Sasha Bhavan of Knox Bhavan Architects. Together they shared their experiences and observations of gender bias and attitudes towards women within the architecture profession.

Read the full article here

“Clients tend to assume I am not as senior as I am.” Cécilia Gross

The Planner's Women of Influence

On International Women’s Day 2022 Zoë was nominated and selected as a Planner’s Women of Influence. The list featured in The Planner of highly regarded professionals, highlighting 50 women across all sectors who have had a profound impact in and around planning. The non-ranked and non-competitive list features women working in planning and policy, the public sector, academia and law – all together having an influence on the planning of cities and spaces. Zoë is incredibly honoured to have been nominated and accepted onto this list.

See the feature and full list of selected women here

“She advocates design as a tool to engender positive social, political and economic change. Although still very much growing in her influence, the impact of her activist work can already be seen in a generation of young women (and men) now training and working in the built environment sector and her activism work has distinctly changed the direction of a number of organisations.”

The Planner citation

Alison Brooks on Ely Court with Yẹmí Aládérun & Zoë Berman – AF turns 30

In episode 11 of The Architecture Foundation’s AF turns 30 series, Alison Brooks of Alison Brooks Architects, shares her expertise with Yẹmí Aládérun and Zoë Berman. The series celebrates people, projects and policy that have influenced the architectural landscape over the past thirty years.

The short film follows Alison, Yẹmí and Zoë together visiting Ely Court. Designed by Alison Brooks, the first portion of the South Kilburn housing estate regeneration project for new housing blocks was completed in 2015, as part of Brent Council's 15-year-long regeneration masterplan. Alison Brooks’ design rehoused existing tenants and increased density offering more affordable housing to the area. Following the visit, Alison shares her thoughtful design vision, talks about her belief in housing as a civic act and the three discuss generous approaches to affordable housing.

Watch the film and discussion here

“Housing is the social project of architecture. The way in which architects can really impact the everyday life of communities from every socio-economic background and also public life; everybody moves through the streets and the places that housing forms in terms of our shared urban realm.”

Alison Brooks

In Practice - Architecture Today

As part of Architecture Today’s ‘In Practice’ interview series, Zoë met with photographer Timothy Soar and discussed her experiences as a practitioner.

“I’ve been working on educational projects in and around Oxford for a few years, and have recently moved here from London via a spell in Bristol. It’s an extraordinary city – full of light, and books. 

But despite its history of intellectual liberation there remain limitations. I’m an avid urban wanderer and am often frustrated by the high walls and gates of this place. Glorious green pathways and peaceful courtyards are walled off, retained for those who hold literal or metaphorical keys of access. 

As an educator, I find this paradoxical. As a tutor, my role is to open doorways and introduce a next generation of architects to built spaces, and those who through history designed and crafted them. That requires openness, generosity and curiosity.”

Find the full piece here

“… through collaboration and convening thoughtful, intersectional and compassionate voices, there is an opportunity to turn a new page on the way we design cities.”

Zoë Berman

Stylist Magazine

Each week the Stylist Magazine run a Work/Life feature, with women discussing their work, area of expertise and working day. Writer Kiran Meeder and Zoë Berman chat about Zoë’s daily goings on as a practice Director and activist, talking about coordinating a team, collaboration, design and the work of Part W Collective.  

The issue is available to buy via this link

London Festival of Architecture

The annual London Festival of Architecture was held in 2021 with a mixture of online and in person events. Organised by the NLA the month long series 30 Objects in 30 Days invited 30 key figures in the industry to nominate an object that to them represented and responded to this year’s theme of Care. Guests shared their reasons for why they had chosen their object in a short video. On day 10, Zoë spoke about her nomination for the Franklin Collins electronic spellchecker – chosen because of how, though a small object, it represents the possibility of profound change.

Watch Zoë’s video here to hear more on why her object represents the theme of care. Other contributors to the 30 Objects series have included professional friends Fiona MacDonald, Laura Mark, Pedro Gil, Pam Alexander, Stephanie Edwards, Sarah Castle, Neil Pinder, Jeremy Till and others.

Wallpaper* Architecture and Design activism

The international online design journal Wallpaper*  published a compilation of dynamic architecture and design initiatives, networks, campaigns and support groups working “collectively towards positive change and a hopeful future” including Part W. 

Other activist friends and collaborators also included the RE-SET-GO initiative coordinated by IF-DO and Gort Scott, Afterparti, Architects Climate Action Network, Black Females in Architecture, Sound Advice, Migrant’s Bureau, the XXAOC project – and the Beyond the Built Environment initiative, which featured the work of Studio Berman in their UK exhibition in 2020.

The featured photograph of Yẹmí Àlàdérun, Zoë Berman and Alice Brownfield – on behalf of the wider Part W team – was shot by Morley von Sternberg.

Read the full article here

“We believe in the power of small, multiple actions. Whilst we are realistic about the challenges ahead, we are ambitious about the power to make change”

FRONTRUNNER

Zoë was interviewed by the New York based magazine FRONTRUNNER alongside Part W colleague and co-campaigner, architect Alice Brownfield associate director at Peter Barber Architects and winner of the MJ Long Prize for Excellence in Practice 2021.

The discussion explores the origins of the Part W action group that campaigns to address gender equity within the built environment professions, the collaborative nature of Studio Berman, and the Reading Retreat as an example of a joint design project co-delivered with Benedetta Rogers.

Alice and Zoë discuss why having women making decisions about places, spaces and design is important for making cities.

Read the full interview here

"Form isn’t a whimsical thing. It’s something which is integral to the social ambition of the project" Alice Brownfield, Peter Barber Architects/ Part W

Open Letter

“Street lighting and increased undercover police numbers will not overturn misogyny and racism”

Zoë wrote an open letter on behalf of Part W that outlines the injustices women face in public spaces. The letter outlines the importance of gender equity in the built environment and the role that built environment professionals can play in putting an end to misogyny and racism in the way places and spaces are designed and delivered.

Read the full article here

“Every single woman should be able to walk through any city, day or night, confident in knowing she will not be attacked … (and) Government funding must be invested in deeply engaging with and listening to all those who identify as female and marginalised groups”

Property Week

Welcoming a next generation of women into the built environment sectors

Celebrating International Women’s Day, Property Week invited Zoë Berman to share the ways in which action group Part W are campaigning to support and encourage women in the built environment. In the article, Zoë discusses Part W’s new outreach programme in partnership with Moda Living. The programme is being developed with the aim to inspire the next generation of young women to consider the built environment sector as place for them to have a career. It will offer information and guidance to women considering entering the profession, to sign-post education and mentorship opportunities.  

Read the full article here

“I had wanted to better understand the issues of gender equality in the built environment and to develop ideas for change. I knew … best thinking would come from collective discussion.”

Things We Need

During the Covid-19 lockdowns, Studio Berman brought together a collection of ideas that we had been musing on, setting out sketch ideas on some aspects of the built environment that if enhanced, improved and better funded, would enable us all to enjoy and make the most of the spaces that we live in.

We collated and created a sketchbook of ideas - some large and some small initiatives - that we offer as a contribution to the conversation about public space.

We hope it encourages, inspires and highlights the need for change. There are problems affecting people of all ages and backgrounds that could be better addressed through incremental, small-scale spatial interventions and design decisions.

We drew on examples of data and research by urban designers, sociologists and researchers who have proven how much of a difference good design can make to people’s well-being and health. From the pavement to the park, the high-street to waterways, we need to come together to demand and create better places for living for all.

Read our sketchbook of ideas here

Wild Corridors

“We hope it encourages, inspires and highlights the need for change. There are problems affecting people of all ages and backgrounds that could be better addressed through incremental, small-scale spatial interventions and design decisions. ” Studio Berman

No barriers and streets for play

The Festival of Place - Front Garden City

Courtesy of The Developer magazine, we won the chance to present our design idea ‘The Front Garden City’ as part of the Radical Rethink series, presenting the design idea we formulated in collaboration with Matter Architects to a panel of experts and a public audience. The series formed part of preceding events, thinking about public space and place making, ahead of the Festival of Place 2020.

The competition sought ideas for policy shifts, design ideas, products or processes to improve our public urban spaces. We proposed the Front Garden City, a strategy that makes front gardens into a public commons. Our initiative proposes a new approach and supporting legislative policy that would enable people to repurpose front garden thresholds as places to meet, share and connect with their neighbours – to strengthen social bonds, address issues of loneliness and improve wellbeing.

The presentation involved feedback from an expert panel including Aminah Ricks (Future Planners) Pamela Smith (National Trust) Cat Drew (Design Council) Natascha McIntyre-Hall (Portsmouth City Council) Jonny Anstead  (TOWN) and Romy Rawlings, Vestre. The event was brought together and Chaired with Christine Murray and Will Sandy.

To watch a recording of our talk click here, our presentation on the Front Garden City begins at 1:06:40

Read more about the genesis of the project here

Radical Rethink

We were delighted to be chosen to present our design idea, The Front Garden City, in response to The Developer journal’s call for ‘Radical Rethink’ submissions, for ideas to improve the design and development of public spaces.

Our project – that seeks to see the front porches, steps and entrance areas of homes becoming inhabitable - was selected.  Front porches, decks, steps and entrance areas are generally small areas. But they are a place for people to make their own, and space that can be edited, used, inhabited and a place to form social bonds.

It was a great pleasure to be teamed up with Matter Architects to collaborate and fine tune our proposal, which will be presented at the end of the September as part of the Festival of Place  2020 proceedings.

Arch-ive

Arch-ive investigates the books that have been influential to leading practitioners. It aims to showcase architects’ relationship with books and the way in which they utilise, interrogate and display architectural resources.

Zoë was interviewed as part of this study talking about various books and texts that have inspired her work.

Read the full interview here

Photographs by Tim Lucas

“I find my ears more open to suggestions of books that come from people who work in areas other than me – in health, in tech, in publishing, in education. Their book suggestions get me outside of my field and into other areas, and I value that immensely.”

Unpacking the Library

We are delighted that Architecture Today has featured a thought piece by Studio B director, Zoë Berman, in which she discusses the lack of representation of women and people from minority groups, and problems with diverse groups gaining recognition in books and writings.

As the lock down started to ease, Zoë took this opportunity to venture into her local bookshop, and observed the way architecture books are overwhelmingly biased towards the works and writings of male architects working in traditional practice. The article seeks to raise awareness of the limitations this presents for architectural progress. 

Read the full article here

“The message emanating from the bookshop or library shelves is echoed by gender imbalances in prizes, medals, judging panels and media”

CogX - The Equal City

How can cities bring about positive societal change? What role does design play in the climate emergency? Zoë joined fellow designers, policy and place makers to discuss these issues. The discussion ‘The equal city - Place-making, diversity and change’, addressed poignant topics about equality and place during the Covid-19 pandemic. The discussion introduced ideas about equity and change in the light of the Black Lives Matter movement. Speakers discussed the need for positive change in the way urban centres are designed, and raised the issues of power and positions of influence within the built environment sector.  

The talk took place as Part of CogX Festival 2020  that brings together a worldwide community of leaders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, scientists, policy makers, artists and activists.

The session was Chaired by Christine Murray - Editor-in-Chief of The Developer. Zoë joined Pooja Agrawal, Programme Manager at the Greater London Authority, Simon Höher Leader at Hybrid City Lab and Hanna Harris, Chief Design Officer - City of Helsinki.

A recording of the panel discussion is available to watch here

MULTISTORY* Guest Lecture

MULTISTORY* is a student and alumni led guest lecture programme series at Canterbury School of Architecture, University for the Creative Arts, that invites architects, designers, writers, curators, photographers and artists to speak about their work.

Zoë Berman was invited to give a lecture as part of this lecture series that focuses on the themes of Futures: Industry, with guest speakers invited to fuel discussion on how the profession is adapting and innovating to cope with changes looking at issues of climate, society, and procurement. The series aims to ask ‘what kind of diversifications are emerging, growing and changing the wider industry, and how can we participate?’

Zoë joined the Canterbury School of Architecture to talk about design, equality and activism.

Women in Architecture WFH

During the Covid-19 pandemic during a time of incredibly challenging shut down, Zoë Berman of Studio Berman and Founder of Part W took over Parlour’s social media as guest curator, featuring a project about Women in Architecture - Working from Home. Parlour is a 'space to speak – bringing together research, informed opinion and resources; generating debate and discussion; expanding the spaces for women in Australian architecture.'

Following the worldwide move out of offices and studios with people having to work from home, Zoë invited female architecture and built environment practitioners, friends, colleagues and students to share snapshots of their new home workspaces. Zoë framed the Working From Home (WFH) project in the following way:  

"In this global pandemic, women are being affected in a number of ways - having to work from home, juggle their roles as leaders, teachers, curators, directors, academics - alongside often having to take a lead on caring duties and take on a huge amount of unpaid work. Work is being interrupted in ways few of us had predicted. We see statistics indicating low-paid, young people and women are likely to be the hardest hit by the Coronavirus shutdown.

Yet, despite these challenges, women in the architecture and built environment sector are still producing great work, and are being incredibly resourceful, generous and proactive. This photo study seeks to celebrate that." 

Parlour interviewed Zoë about her own experiences of working from home as an architect, educator and activist. You can read the full interview here 

Parlour instagram takeover, photo study

"Work is being interrupted in ways few of us had predicted. Yet, despite these challenges, women in the architecture and built environment sector are still producing great work, and are being incredibly resourceful, generous and proactive. This photo study celebrates that" 

The Virtual Unit

Practice director Zoë Berman was asked to participate in The Virtual Unit, to talk about ‘alternative modes of practice’ in architecture, and share her experience of running a design collective.

The series was instigated during a period of global lockdown, at which time all architecture schools closed their studio doors and teaching shifted online. The Virtual Unit was set up in response to this challenging moment by the journalist, critic and keeper of Walmer Yard, Laura Mark.  Laura created an opportunity for architecture students to join in weekly video calls, where selected speakers shared and discussed thoughts and ideas around architecture, design and education.

Zoë spoke alongside Dr. Julia King, Research Fellow at LSE Cities and architect and academic Eddie Blake. The Virtual Unit was established, in response to a time of considerable uncertainty, as a platform “for architecture students to ask questions and get advice from different architects and academics.”

Watch the recording of the discussion here

Virtual Unit #3, Alternative Practice

“The Virtual Unit was established, in response to a time of considerable uncertainty, as a platform “for architecture students to ask questions and get advice from different architects and academics.”

Wikipedia-edit-a-thon

On International Women’s day, Part W — an action group of industry professionals who campaign for gender equity across the built environment, led a workshop in which participants were enabled to add to and improve the digital profiles of women architects and designers, with a focus on those whose design achievements are missing or under-represented online. Across sectors, entries for women make up just 18.3% of Wikipedia’s online biographies. This workshop sought to raise awareness of this issue and make a positive change.

The workshop was a free event hosted by the Design Museum and delivered in sisterhood with the research-based advocacy organisations Parlour, in Sydney.

Our practice director and Founder of Part W, Zoë Berman opened the workshop alongside Professor Mel Dodd, Associate Dean for Knowledge Exchange at Central St Martin’s college. Zoë discussed Part W’s aims and actions; raising awareness of the significant contributions to design made by women through history.

An introduction to editing and adding articles was made by an expert wikimedian. Over the course of the day participants succeeded in adding over 1,500 additions, edits and changes to the site, to bolster the online visibility and recognition of female designers and architects.   

Read more about the initiative in Zoë’s interview for the Design Museum

Wikipedia-edit-a-thon, The Design Museum

“Across sectors, entries for women make up just 18.3% of Wikipedia’s online biographies. This workshop sought to raise awareness of this issue and make a positive change.”