Architects: Sarah Winchester

Sarah Winchester (1839-1922) was a wealthy widow who spent decades of her life building a never ending house, full of countless rooms, corridors, and stairwells. The Winchester Mystery House is now a historic landmark, and can be visited in San Jose, where it is located.  For Further Reading: Sara…

Architects: Pravina Mehta

Pravina Mehta (c.1923-1992) was an Indian architect, planner and political activist, who participated in street protests against British colonial rule. Later, she studied architecture and helped conceptualize the New Bombay plan in 1964. For Further Reading: Claiming Space/Designing Space: Women A…

Architects: Empress Suiko

Empress Suiko (554-628) was the first reigning empress of Japan in recorded history, known for ushering in an era of peace and stability. Under her reign, some of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan were constructed. For Further Reading:  Empress Suiko of Japan The Story of Empress Suiko Asukader…

Architects: Amaza Lee Meredith

Amaza Lee Meredith (1895-1984) was an American artist and architect. She is most famous for building Azurest South, which is registered on the National Register of Historic Places and National Historic, and Azurest North, a historically African American community.  For Further Reading:  Amaza Lee …

Architects: Amina, Queen of Zazzau

Amina, Queen of Zazzau (c.1533-1610) was a Hausa leader in the city-state Zazzau (now city of Zaria in Kaduna State in Nigeria). To mark and protect her new lands, Amina had her cities surrounded by earthen walls. These walls became commonplace until the British conquest of Zazzau in 1904. Many of …

Architects: Toypurina

Toypurina (1760-1799) was a Tongva woman who lived in modern-day California during the period of Spanish colonial rule. She helped organize a rebellion against the San Gabriel mission. Despite the failure of this revolt, she remains an important figure in Indigenous history and is celebrated for he…

Architects: Patama Roonrakwit

Patama Roonrakwit (1968-present) is a Thai architect and the founder of CASE Studio. She is known for participatory architecture that involves local communities in the design process to create sustainable and affordable living spaces. Her work emphasizes social responsibility and improving living c…

Architects: Jane Jacobs

Jane Jacobs (1916 to 2006) was a pioneering urbanist and activist best known for her influential book The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961), which challenged conventional urban planning ideas by advocating for vibrant, community-centered, and pedestrian-friendly city design.  For Furt…

Architects: Maya Lin

Maya Lin (1959 - present) is a sculptor, architect, artist, and designer known for her memorial work and focus on landscapes and the environment. At age 21 she designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, which was dedicated in 1982. Since then she has seamlessly weaved between art and architecture, pro…

Architects: Yasmeen Lari

Yasmeen Lari (1941-present) is Pakistan’s first female architect and an influential figure in the intersection of architecture and social justice. Though she built her career designing “starchitect” buildings for oil interests and private parties in Pakistan, she shifted at the top of her game to w…