Architecture not just a ‘boy’s club’

The numbers of graduating architects were about 50/50 men and women.

Architecture’s ‘‘boy’s club’’ reputation is changing, the head of the national institute says.

Christina van Bohemen, who is the second female president of the New Zealand Institute of Architects after 100 years, said while only 22 per cent of registered architects were females the numbers of graduating were about 50/50 men and women.

‘‘There are a lot of women who are in sole practice; few who are visible in corporate practice, but that is also changing now.

‘‘I think that the visibility of seeing women in positions of leadership, whatever the profession, is a really important thing.’’

She said there were also fewer Ma¯ ori and Pasifika architects.

‘‘That’s another area that we want to really support.’’

Van Bohemen was in New Plymouth on Thursday as part of the Women + Architecture exhibition at Stonebaths and the Festival of Architecture 2017.

She and university lecturer Kathy Waghorn spoke to about 20 high school students, parents and careers advisors about the education pathways to becoming an architect.

Van Bohemen said the industry was more than just the buildings themselves - it was also the spaces around them.

‘‘You want creative buildings that engage with pedestrians...The street is a place of social connection and it feels like a good place to be in.

‘‘I think I enjoy the fact that it is that mix of social creativity and the analytical. You can work in the kind of area that plays on your strengths.’’

Two girls who attended the talk, Ella Wood, 16, and Olivia Rogers, 17, were interested in becoming architects.

‘‘I just love the creativeness and I think with architecture just how broad you can go as well. You’ve got all these different pathways of architecture,’’ Olivia said. ‘‘And also finding solutions as well.’’

‘‘I’m quite interested in creativity and design aspects but kind of connecting with the people and the environments as well,’’ Ella said.