AA Women in Architecture 1917–2017

This book is the keystone of AAXX 100, a project celebrating the centenary of women’s admission to the Architectural Association School of Architecture that included a symposium and exhibition. From just four female students in 1917, when institutions were opened to them due to the lack of male students during the First World War, women now make up the majority of students at the school, though the authors point out that their trajectory has not been as smooth as those figures suggest.

Eight chapters and an epilogue cover the chronological history and geographical origins of students (90 per cent of the female students now come from outside the UK) and the unique alchemy of the school and the female student body. Chapters take the form of essays written by the editors and a diverse range of mostly women contributors from the fields of architecture, history and academia, in addition to AA archivist Edward Bottoms. The work is replete with reproductions of whimsical period illustrations, early news articles and of course photographs of the students and their work, along with drawings and designs.