REBELARCHITETTE
Digital activisim advocating for equality and inclusion in architecture
Born in may 2017 ARCHITETTE-ARCHIWOMEN facebook platform showcased 365 women architects online to coincide with the opening of Venice Biennale 2018 / ARCHITETTE one SHE-ARCHITECT PER DAY!
The team called REBELARCHITETTE is a collective of creative professionals, empowering women in architecture
ACTIVITY
• Promoting female role models to students and young generations of architects through the Facebook platform and the digital book ARCHITETTE=WOMENARCHITECTS here we are!
• Promoting the correct use and dissemination of ARCHITETTA (as the gendered ITALIAN term for women architects)
• Mentoring young generation of future architects through local activities and online news
• Monitoring Juries and panels; advocating for equality in architecture
• Networking with other associations interested in inclusion and equality in architecture and design, supporting and sharing their initiatives.
/
HISTORY
In March 2017, following a request from Silvia Vitali, Cristina Brembilla and Francesca Perani, Ordine Architetti Bergamo (professional association of architects in Bergamo) was the first Italian professional institution to introduce the option of a professional stamp declined in the feminine: Architetta.
The news was widely covered in the media and this opened a broad, intense, public debate on the use of the feminine term for the profession. This is why Francesca Perani decided to keep the discussion alive and, with a number of other creatives, founded the collective editorial team RebelArchitette backing professional women in architecture, advocating both for the use of the feminine term and for the promotion of female role models in architecture.
With an average age under 35, students and professionals, the team is based in Bergamo, Italy, with international connections. Working in constant contact, the group has grown throughout the year adding international members outside of the architecture profession: designers, translators, editors, bloggers, photographers.
The collective is since then, supporting and actively promoting the dissemination of the professional title of Architetta, (Italian feminine term for female architect), which both media and insiders still struggle to use correctly, believing it is crucial to improve the awareness of a professional gender identity. The project promotes a less sexist and more inclusive vision in a domain where it is still hard for women to find a voice, too often trapped inside a cliché and in a grammatically masculine title; new professionals and those who are still persuaded to have chosen a man's job are encouraged to see their role as no longer (male) gender specific.
The team’s proposal follows the Academics’ of Accademia della Crusca advice on the matter encouraging the use of the feminine declination for all professions following social demands for a language more respectful and representative of women.
As well as the promotion of the feminine term, the collective developed a 365 days project: 365 profiles of female-driven architecture studios delivered online to coincide with the inauguration of Biennale di Architettura di Venezia 2018, this year curated by Yvonne Farrell and Shelley Mc Namara (Grafton Architects).
The book-project is designed to be both a source of inspiration for young professional women in design and a directory available to anyone who is interested in a fairer representation of the work of women in architecture (such as journalists, professional bodies, event or jury organisers, academics).
All architects featured have been selected by the team among women who work in women-driven offices of architecture. Contemporary names are joined by historical figures, the unforgettables, who led the way and continue to be a relevant source of inspiration. Selections were made considering the following criteria: widely recognized indicators of success (awards, teaching, competitions won, publications, presence on juries) and a cutting edge work ethic based on commitment to equality and engaged with social and environmental issues.
The evaluation of excellence is therefore not based simply on the ability to deliver an individual project to an individual client, rather projects that can lead to major changes in architecture, bringing innovative ideas that involve a wider community.
Women-driven studios showcased in the database feature single female architects, couples (woman+man), all female teams in order to break the stereotype of studio where women are relegated to a supporting role in a male dominated show.
As the profession is going through an historical change Team RebelArchitette has been delivering a new perspective on the process from a female point of view.
The research has been based mainly on online sources (most influential international on-line platforms delivering Architecture contents as Divisare and Awards for women architects), a dedicated international open call (launched in November 2017) and profiles put forward by women and men who believed in this project while in the making.
The Facebook platform Architette reached 3.000 followers in the first 8 months, the book, released online on the 17th January 2018, reached 1,450 readers in the first 15 days, now a total of 5600. Among top viewers by nationality: Italy, United States, United Kingdom, Australia and India.
It is a grassroots venture, not intended to create a scientific database, yet offering a clear vision for a new source of inspiration for younger generations. This is why RebelArchitette’s action takes place online, on a social platform as well as with the online, self-published, open source book, to be shared and used as a powerful tool by many at an international level.
Reaching very diverse audiences, this project has been leader in the dissemination of the world Architetta and the promotion of Female Role Models in the design industry joining others developed worldwide, as new ways to break down gender stereotypes and to motivate young generations of architects.
In May 2018 the Team delivered the e-book on Issuu platform and has been invited by architects Caroline James and Louise Bravermann to be part of the steering committee who organized as Voices of Women collective, the Flash Mob to call for gender equality at Venice Biennale. The activities of RebelArchitette are now also focusing on monitoring all-male juries and conferences, keeping on suggesting their database of role models for a gender balanced architectural practice.
Team RebelArchitette: (September 2018) Founder and curator Francesca Perani Editing managers Anna Serafini, Claudia Manenti, Caterina Pilar Palumbo, Ilenia Perlotti, Elena Fabrizi, Martina Ottaviano, Editing team Giulia Baroni, Laura Belotti, Cinzia Bigoni, Silvia Carrara, Martina Colombari, Mary Kaldani, Giusy Paterno, Tatiana Vinciguerra Press releases (ita) Marta Brambilla Translation Giovanna Bosis Divisare head curator Domenica Bona
press selection
internazionali
https://www.archdaily.com/894470/valuing-women-architects-in-their-professional-field
http://www.momowo.eu/rebel-architette-editorial-team-backing-professional-women-design/
nazionali
http://www.artribune.com/progettazione/architettura/2018/04/rebelarchitette-biografie-libri/
https://www.architetti.com/architette-biennale-architettura-2018-rebelarchitette.html
http://www.tedxbergamo.com/rebel-architette/
http://alleyoop.ilsole24ore.com/2018/01/16/far-conoscere-i-volti-femminili-dellarchitettura-italiana-il-progetto-rebel-architette/?refresh_ce=1
https://www.letteradonna.it/it/articoli/conversazioni/2017/11/21/rebel-architette-bergamo-declinazioni-femminile/24779/
https://bergamo.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/17_aprile_26/architetta-vinta-battaglia-fb0d24b6-2a4a-11e7-aac7-9deed828925b.shtml