"BUILDERS OF HOUSES."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17234, 9 August 1919, Page 4 (Supplement)

"BUILDERS OF HOUSES."

Now that " housing ' it realised as one of the problems of reconstruction, plans for the betterment of dwellings are being evolved by many architects, says a writer in an English exchange. One would imagine that domestic architecture would be a career that would offer scope and possibilities to women yet, though architecture as a profession has b»en open to women for many years past, but few have availed themselves of it; in fact, up, to the present only two women have actually qualified as members of the Royal Institute of British Architects—the Alma Mater of the profession. It is likely, however, that in the near future this number will be increased, as there are several girls now studying to take the examinations of the institute.

The Architects' Association, Bedford Square, and the University College, Gower Street, are two of the recognised schools of architecture. At tha former there are at present 180 full-time pupils, of whom 20 aro women, and it is run more or leas on the " Beaux Arts " system, which means that there is little discipline so long as the work is done, and therefore it rests with the individual students to ', make good." Very special qualifications are needed by the would-be architect. She must, first and foremost, be artistic; she must have a certain knowledge of mathematics and of engineering, a, business instinct, a logical outlook on things generally, good! reasoning power, and tact and imagination. The training includes drawing and construction, the history of architecture, design, general art training, visits to buildings in course of construction, and cover several years. There are three examinations to be token before the student can become an Associate of the R.1.8.A. and a fully qualified architect; the preliminary, which is not compulsory, and is in lieu of matriculation; the intermediate, and the final. Two years should elapse between the intermediate and the final. The cost of training varies, but it can be completely covered by the gaining of prizes and scholarships. As a rule the student goes to " school." and ia attached to an architect at the same time, so that she obtains practical as well as thereotical knowledge. She gets a thorough foundation in all the fundamentals of architecture, and then can specialise either in domestic work, gardening, interior decoration, or whatever form of architecture appeals to her most, bnt in any case it will probably be six or seven years before she can practice herself or take a position as an architect's assistant. A girl receives exactly the same training as a man, and under similar conditions. She competes with men for prises and scholarships; she joins in their work and their play. There is no doubt that architecture is a profession in which men and women should work particularly well to gether, and it is safe to prophecy that there will be, in the future, firms of archi tects in which the partners will be men and women.

A woman, too, in conjunction with a man could do valuable work by specialising in the planning of houses which will be conducive to labour-saving and not labour-making.