We’d like to start out by acknowledging the loss of a true hero here in the Northwest. Founder of Environmental Works, a non profit firm in specializing in child-care centers, homeless shelters, low-income housing and community centers, Gleason believed everyone deserves good design. In addition to acting on that belief, she played soccer, was a cellist in the Cascade Symphony Orchestra and even put in time for other non-profits. She set an outstanding example and she’ll be missed.
Monica Ponce de Leon, U.S.A
Her work is innovative and challenges design protocols with fresh new solutions. Organic geometrical moves provide functional solutions and develop elegantly pleasing interiors.
Hilary Sample, U.S.A.
Delicate and diverse is the work of Sample. The finished products push the envelope of conceptual design, at the same time they maintain a careful agenda. Some of her work simply makes us think a bit differently about the built-environment, other work has our tongues dragging on the ground.
Kazuyo Sejima, Japan
It takes confidence and wisdom to propose designs as minimal and sterile as the work of Sejima. Her work focuses on the geometries and apertures that lie within seemingly simple forms. Her recent exhibit that toured the country, a collection models both built and proposed, was Bold with a capital B, like pushing a new agenda for architecture kind of Bold. It had our full attention.
Julie Snow, U.S.A.
Luminous and unencumbered, Snow’s work is the warm lantern in the cold northern winter. Her method of design is rich enough to give comfort, sparse enough to allow nature to take center stage. The thought of throwing a swanky party in one of her rocket-hot lakeshore vacation homes gets our gears going. We promise not to spill Pinot Noir on the couch Julie, c’mon just one little soire…
Benedetta Tagliabue, Spain
Tagliabue’s work is a rediscovery of form, color and mechanics. Her work is both playful and daring. Most of us will be lucky to achieve a single project in our lives with the level of ambition that each of her projects displays.
Maryann Thompson, U.S.A.
An architect with both technical competence and an eye for intriguing composition is rare. Thompson covers them both and then proceeds right on to knocking the ball out the park with her projects. Forward thinking in design, yet still warm and human these projects really speak to us and we spent a great deal of time reviewing her work. Kudos for a clean, easy to navigate website; taking the time and effort for high quality photos also makes a tremendous difference.
Billy Tsein, U.S.A.
Ahh Billy, so mysterious and elegant. In grad school they sung songs about her in the hills. Each and every project is deliberate and important as a piece of architecture. Each project has significance in the world. Intentional about what she takes on, intelligent and beautiful in the solution, and masterful in the execution, Tsein transcends design into epiphany.
Nathalie de Vries, Netherlands
Equal parts architect and human psychologist, the work of de Vries questions not only the design agenda but also the human agenda. Her solutions are striking in composition, wonderful in exploration and challenge the preconceived notions of living, working and playing. The design for the Dutch Pavilion at Expo 2000 makes us giggle with childlike fascination every time we see pictures of it.
Sarah Wigglesworth, U.K.
Wigglesworth brings a breath of fresh air to the urban context. Her forms are serious architecture well integrated to their sites. The interiors are inspiring spaces to be in and the envelopes abide by the form follows function aesthetic – big respect.
The “Women Making an Impact” is an ongoing series – hit that comments button to nominate your favorites or follow along with the BUILDblog research via twitter.
Jane Jacobs: In April of 2006 the design world lost one of its greatest writers, observers, theorists and activists. Her 1961 book The Death and Life of Great American Cities is, to this day, one of the most influential resources in the world on urban architecture and urban planning. Her other titles are every bit as good. At a time in society where the mainstream thinking was to tear everything down and start with a blank canvas – Jacobs questioned it all and wrote the book on urban design.
Eileen Gray: Like their designer, her pieces are elegant and enigmatic. The Eileen Gray daybed may very well be one the most pure furniture designs in modern history. She bucked the system of gratuitous curves and ornament for clean lines and functional design.
Anni Albers: We’ve always loved the balance of Albers’ textiles; the rational, clean grids woven with craftsmanship (or craftswomanship rather) into a tactile imperfect material. The perfect married with the real. There is so much materiality in her work that you can practically feel the weaves through the photos. We were lucky enough to catch her work at a Cooper Hewitt show years ago and we found her work to illustrate everything we admire about design.
Gwendolyn Wright: This woman is more passionate about architecture than all of us put together. For dinner she has medallions of architecture over a steaming bed of architecture with a side dish of architecture. She makes most of us look like ninnies when it comes to dedication of an occupation. She recently completed the USA version of Modern Architectures in History and continues to teach at Columbia University. She is a world class professor, excellent lecturer and stars in the PBS series History Detectives.
Maya Lin: From her installations to her portfolio of architectural work, Maya Lin’s vocabulary is full of craft and sensuality. In an increasingly digital and mechanized world, her work is refreshingly designed with the eye and built with the hand. There is a tangible sensation of wanting to touch, smell and hear these works.
Lise Anne Couture: As a principal of New York based Asymptote Architecture, Couture applies an illustrious design-forward manifesto to architecture, master planning, interiors, furniture, industrial design and exhibitions. Her designs are sleek and smart. If you want to see what the future looks like you should get very familiar with her portfolio.
Petra Blaisse: Her large scale surface coverings and hangings open up new ideas between nature and built-form. Her installations cause you to think differently. We particularly like her work as it relies heavily on proximity and where you are in relation to the pieces.
Hella Jongerius: At first glance her work is striking in terms of color and pattern. The further into her work we get the more we like the re-invention of form and assembly. Jongerius exemplifies that a good designer can design anything.
Deborah Adler: When it comes to design a small strategy can have wide ranging effects. Adler understood this with her clever Masters Thesis which applied a new set of logistics and information identity on prescription bottles. The concept was so successful that Target is now in partnership with her on the Clear Rx brand. She also has great hair – the kind of hair that should be flipping around in a shampoo commercial –rrroww.
Tina Roth Eisenberg: Otherwise known as Swiss Miss, she is at the helm of the design blog ship. Tens of thousands of design minded individuals look to her blog for emerging design. We check in with her daily – so should you.
Ray Eames, U.S.A.
So significant and infectious were her contributions to the design world that it is nearly impossible to walk through a modern project and not find some derivative of Eames design.
Lina Bo Bardi, Brazil
A spearhead of Italian rationalism her work is bold and unapologetically modern. Forms soar and materials are allowed to be true to their character.
Marion Mahony Griffin, U.S.A.
She was one of the first licensed female architects in the world, and is considered an original member of the Prairie School. Architectural writer Reyner Banham called her the “greatest architectural delineator of her generation”. Alrighty then. Marion Mahony Griffin’s pinky could probably achieve more than most of us combined.
Eva Jiricna, U.K.
Sophisticated and technical, Jiricna’s work pushes the boundaries and makes us feel like we’re building with Lincoln logs. Thanks a lot Eva.
Deborah Berke, U.S.A.
Simple but sensuous, her work employs slight geometric moves to engage the inhabitants. Check out her new book and recent NPR interview.
Tatiana Bilbao, Mexico
It’s refreshing to look at Bilbao’s work as it is such a new interpretation of form. The experience of moving through these projects must be surreal.
Virginia Kerridge, Australia
Warm materials, glowing volumes and simple geometries characterize Kerridge’s work. For a “young” architect (an architect under the age of 50) Kerridge is hitting it out of the park.
Ann Beha, U.S.A.
Rational, yet extremely elegant, Beha’s work tackles some of the more important institutions in society. We like the particular knack for resuscitating historic buildings with forward thinking modernism.
Christine Binswanger, Switzterland
Rumored to be next in line at world renowned Herzog & de Meuron, Binswanger has worked on a mind-boggling portfolio of projects including the Ricola storage buildings, the Walker Arts Center and the Miami Art Museum
Is it just our lack of resourcefulness on the internet, or does H&dM really not have a website?
Caroline Bos, The Netherlands
As the co-founder of UN Studio, Bos brings her previous experience as journalist, writer and critic to the architecture realm specializing in urban development and infrastructure. The work she is doing with UN Studio is redefining built-form and leading the way to the 21st century.
Amanda Levete, UK
Levete’s designs are future-forward and unapologetic. Her projects seem to have a commitment to the possibility of human behavior as opposed to simply delivering design twists on established formulas. The work challenges the functions of a society and interjects a necessary exploration into the design world.
Louisa Hutton, Germany
The grand scale of work that Hutton applies her skills to incorporates pleasing textures which create an urban fabric. We applaud the amount of personality and color that her work brings to the city scale.
Momoyo Kaijima, Japan
A master at urban infill, Kaijima’s projects explore new form, fill in the gaps of the city and bring new interpretations to the ergonomics of interiors.
Anne Lacaton, France
Her work is inconspicuous to the extent that the untrained eye may not even notice Lacaton’s sophisticated designs. But to the trained eye the projects come off as rational, deliberate and graceful.
Dorte Mandrup, Denmark
Like many of the women who crushed our little student hearts back in Denmark, Mandrup is smart, beautiful and can design circles around most of us. Not to worry Dorte, we won’t hold it against you. We find the design concepts original, the craftsmanship inspiring and the assemblies fascinating. So about that drink…
Victoria Meyers, U.S.A.
Meyers has a good handle on the ‘everything it needs to be and nothing more’ aesthetic and her work hits all the right chords with us. There is a nice range of challenging projects on her website and she also keeps a blog –big points from team BUILD.
E.B. Min, U.S.A.
We like the contrast between sleek, smooth glass with the warm textured woods in Min’s projects. The lantern-like glowing effect also gets us everytime.
Toshiko Mori, U.S.A.
Rigorously modern, Mori’s work has retained the qualities so arduously earned from mid-century modern design. The clear geometries and walls of glass integrate logic with inspiring spaces to live, work and play in.
Patricia Patkau, Canada
With a progressive design philosophy, Patkau’s methods are constantly generating new geometries and methods of assembly. We’re particularly proud of that northwest flavor that’s integrated with a global innovation.
Carme Pinos, Spain
Very few architectural studios are as diligent about the process of architecture as Estudio Carme Pinos. Through a rigorous lineage from sketch to drawing to physical model, form is rediscovered and architecture is born. The drawings are captivating from the initial back of the envelope sketches and the built work is an epiphany for the senses.
Allison Brooks, U.K.
Not only is the work ambitious, fast-forward thinking and inspiring but the Brooks website is a pleasure to tour. Brooks is skilled not only in design but in the mastery of enrolling clients in important, progressive ideas.
Marianne Burkhalter, Switzerland
Clean, crisp plans and rational boxes define the work of Burkhalter. Interior volumes are light-filled, open and flexible –just how we like ‘em.
Liz Diller, U.S.A.
Behind many of the most exciting projects of the decade is Diller, Scofidio & Renfro. Diller’s master planning shifts one’s paradigm and the architecture is deliberate all the way down to the detailing.
Merril Elam, U.S.A.
You know an architect is up to extraordinary work when their firm philosophy states “We travel well and find the discovering of new places invigorating. We have heavy overcoats and galoshes and we are fond of tulips. Place has everything to do with the character and outcome of a project.” We think Elam’s work re-ignites the senses of wonder and curiosity and we can’t wait to visit one of her projects.
Karen Fairbanks, U.S.A.
The work of Marble Fairbanks pushes a modern agenda, but importantly doesn’t loose the poetry of good architecture.
Jeannie Gang, U.S.A.
What Studio Gang has achieved for a young firm is off the charts, the construction of their Aqua Tower in downtown Chicago indicates decades of dedication, solid expertise and long grueling hours.
Annette Gigon, Switzerland
By the time we were finished reviewing the Gigon|Guyer website we were putting our own resumes together for submission. Gorgeous building after gorgeous building, all designed and crafted with that beautifully boring aesthetic that hits all the right chords.
Silvia Gmur, Switzerland
Bold and proud is the work of Gmur. We like the order, the clean lines and the transparency.
Laurie Hawkinson, U.S.A.
Let it be known that we adore Laurie Hawkinson. Having had her as a professor in graduate school we can vouch first hand that she’s smart, savvy and has a great sense of humor. Her work is rigorous Architecture with a capital A.
Anna Heringer, Austria
This woman is in the trenches, solving real problems for real people. Whether it’s a home for handicapped children in South Africa or family housing in Bangladesh, Heringer is the real deal.
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