WOMEN AS ARCHITECTS

Ladies' Mirror, Volume I, Issue 9, 1 March 1923, Page 34

WOMEN AS ARCHITECTS

A T the distribution of prizes at the Architectural Association School, Bedford Square, London, last year, a woman student. Miss E. G. Cooke, received her diploma, and it is expected that in 1923 several more women will achieve a like distinction. “We have 200 students in the school, about 30 of whom are women,” said the secretary to a correspondent. “The course is a five years’ one, and includes such subjects as design, colour, sanitary engineering, interior decoration, historical study of architectural styles, and town planning. The general ‘bent’ of the woman student is towards interior decoration. She has a natural appreciation for colour. We do not find that laboursaving devices are more to her than to men, for at this stage the student has had no experience of cooking and such household arts, and has not therefore come in contact with domestic disabilities or amenities. A man architect is just as likely as a woman to possess special qualifications in this direction.” Mrs. May Cane, first member of the Concrete Institute for Architects and Engineers, who specialises definitely upon labour-saving devices, expressed her views on the subject. “I agree with this opinion,” she said, “and have always advised that women who are going in for domestic architecture should first of all learn housewifery. How else are they to discover the needs of women in this line? My own architectural training started at home under my mother’s guidance, for she was determined that I should first of all learn housewifery in its various branches, and that knowledge has stood me in good stead ever since. I have specialised upon fitted furniture because it saves space and cleaning ‘underneath.’ It is particularly adaptable to flat and bungalow life, and can be adapted to any individual needs. Even a bed can do this, for the part that is usually waste space can be employed as low cupboards.”

"JI/TISS Edith Howes, the well-known -L* l - authoress of "The Sun's Babies" and many other delightful books for children. A teacher by profession, she finds time to write nature stories for little people, which are eagerly read by young and old alike. She is a gifted speaker, and her addresses on such subjects as "Music in Nature" and "Songs of the Seashore," delivered at various clubs for women and girls in Dunedin, are always listened to with keen interest.