Women Changing Architecture: From MAXXI to MET
On September 5, 2024, the Department of Architectural Science at Toronto Metropolitan University hosted a landmark event celebrating the achievements of women in architecture. The opening of Buone Nuove/Good News: Women in Architecture was not only a showcase of excellent design but also a powerful testament to the importance of recognizing women leaders who have shaped and are shaping the future of design. Over 500 professionals, students, and community members gathered in a spirit of progress and empowerment, marking a moment of inspiration and momentum for the field. The event closes with a panel discussion on the evening of Thursday October 10, 2024.
This traveling exhibition, which first opened at the MAXXI Museum in Rome in 2022, features works and words of dozens of Italian and global women architects who have changed the field of architecture and are empowering a new generation of inclusive city-builders. The exhibition offers a new and more comprehensive perspective of architecture by showing how women and women-led collectives have elevated the quality of modern and contemporary design.
According to Shirley Blumberg, Partner, KPMB Architects, “This is a watershed moment in Toronto — a celebration of the voices of talented, diverse and multigenerational women in architecture. TMU gave this show the platform it deserves and then some. The overflowing crowd and the buzz on opening night was remarkable.”
The TMU edition of Buone Nuove embraces the Toronto context, adding local layers of relevance to the exhibition’s international focus. Showcased are 16 empowering practices of Toronto-based women architects who are making an impact through advocacy, mentorship, design excellence, and leadership. Their contributions reflect not only architectural excellence but also a commitment to fostering equity and inclusion within and beyond the profession. Many of these featured architects were in attendance, engaging with visitors and students, further enriching the evening’s celebration of community and dialogue. By elevating the voices and achievements of local practitioners, the exhibition highlights the vital role Toronto’s women architects play in shaping the city’s built environment and inspiring the next generation of designers.
Reflecting the city’s diversity, the exhibition highlights the importance of inclusive design and broader conversations about equity. Speaking to this directly, the “Beyond Gender” segment features a video excerpt from an ongoing research project “Taking Stock: Voices of Women in Architecture in Canada.” This project, led by TMU Prof. Jennifer Esposito and student Saskia Scarce, engages storytelling to amplify the voices of the next generation of Black designers. Future “Taking Stock” projects will explore the advancement of women in the field through examining practice, academia, disability, economic access, race, and Indigeneity.
“This project provided an invaluable opportunity to listen to and learn from Black women in Toronto; women who I see myself, experiences, and future reflected in. Our contribution is a call to action, aiming to embed a perspective that supports lasting, holistic transformation, a transformation that is not just necessary but urgent. In order to advance the conversation, “Taking Stock” seeks to examine the current status of women in Canada through an intersectional perspective that goes beyond gender,” said Saskia Scarce, undergraduate research assistant.
The Postcards to Progress initiative opens the exhibition to the broader architectural community, inviting professionals and students alike to showcase their projects, manifestos, and messages supporting diversity in the field. Over 100 unique postcards are displayed and a Good News Café provides space for open dialogue and the creation of more postcards, creating opportunities for further engagement and conversations about equity in architecture. View the Postcards to Progress here.
A historical component, led by TMU Prof. Cheryl Atkinson plots over 100 years of remarkable Toronto-area women in architecture within their socio-political contexts. A closing panel on October 10 will reflect on these milestones and future directions. Learn more.
According to DAS Chair Lisa Landrum, “Buone Nuove challenges us to not simply celebrate the good news about women in architecture, but continue to all work together – drawing on our architectural expertise – to foster the good with and for society.”
Buone Nuove/Good News is open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm until October 10, 2024, at the Paul H. Cooper Gallery, located on the main floor of TMU’s Architecture Building at 325 Church St., Toronto. The exhibition is made possible with the support of Fondazione MAXXI, the Consulate General of Italy (Toronto), the Istituto Italiano di Cultura (Toronto), and and all the practices represented in the exhibit, notably Diamond Schmitt Architects, Giannone Petricone Associates, gh3, Arcadis, Superkul, LGA, and DTAH , as well as KPMB Architects, BORTOLOTTO, Dubbeldam Architecture + Design, Gow Hastings, Moriyama & Teshima Architects, Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, Smoke Architecture, Williamson Williamson, AAmp. Studio, SvN, and Denizens of Design.
The TMU organizing team includes DAS professors Lisa Landrum, Carlo Parente (Gallery Director), Cheryl Atkinson and Jennifer Esposito; student assistants Mei Li, Sabeeh Mobashar and Saskia Scarce; and gallery coordinator Alex Berceanu.
The Buone Nuove/Good News exhibit will continue its North American journey in Montreal, opening at the Centre de Design at the Université du Québec à Montréal in February 2025.
Mei Li is a TMU student in the Department of Architectural Science, currently working on a Co-op work term in Vancouver. She was an assistant researcher and designer for the exhibit.
The post Women Changing Architecture: From MAXXI to MET appeared first on Canadian Architect.