Archify Celebrates: 6 Leading Australian Women in Architecture

In honour of International Women’s Day, Archify celebrates some examples of Australian women who are excelling in their industry, paving the way forward for young women in architecture.

The quest for gender equity in the workplace has come a long way, yet change is slow and accompanied by many challenges. Research reveals that, despite the fact that around 40% of architectural graduates were female, only 20% of those actually working in the architectural field were women. Pay gap patterns show older female architects are receiving lower compensation than their male colleagues.

Architecture firms that have made a commitment to establishing an inclusive, diverse pool of talent are experiencing the benefits. Diverse teams are more resilient, productive and innovative. The field of architecture works to reflect and serve the community and women are a part of that community. By including women at all levels and stages of the design process, design solutions will reflect the needs of inhabitants more honestly, ultimately creating a more socially balanced community.

Ingrid Richards

Co-founder of architecture practice Richards & Spence, Ingrid Richards is committed to the creation of the built environment as a catalyst for civic interaction. Ingrid values robust and well-considered design over novelty and spectacle. “If you design something that’s robust and well considered, people will come to like it, even if it’s not what they were expecting at first. And it’s true of everything in life.” She muses.

Phoebe Nicol

Interior Architect, Phoebe Nicol, is one to watch! Soon after graduating, she launched her own design studio, specialising in high-end residences and boutique commercial spaces. Skilled at sourcing the perfect pieces for clients, it was only natural that she would establish a popular antique furniture store. ‘The Vault Sydney’, which she co-owns with her partner, has become a go-to destination for many of Australia’s leading-edge designers, art directors and stylists.

Kerstin Thompson

Kerstin Thompson is founder and principle of Kerstin Thompson Architects, an architecture, landscape and urban design practice with projects in Australia and New Zealand. For over 25 years, Kerstin has explored how architecture can positively impact community, focusing on user experience and enjoyment of place.

Her work has received numerous awards and local and international recognition through various publications, most recently featuring in the first of a series of monographs by Leon Schaik that recognises Australia’s most exciting architects. Kerstin plays an active role educating and promoting quality design within the profession. She is adjunct professor at RMIT and Monash universities and was elevated to life fellow by the Australian Institute of Architects in 2017.

Clare Cousins

Clare Cousins established her private practice in Melbourne, 2005. Clare Cousins Architects has a particular interest in housing and residential projects that nurture community and promote sustainability. Clare believes high quality, affordable housing should be available to all and was an inaugural investor in the Nightingale model. Clare is one of six architecture practices collaborating to deliver Nightingale Village, a socially, financially and ecologically sustainable multi-residential housing development in Brunswick.

“Great Architecture should be more than the building itself–I’m interested in how buildings can have a positive impact on the greater community.”

Rachel Nolan

Rachel Nolan is a founding director of Melbourne-based architectural practice Kennedy Nolan and continues to lead the practice’s design direction alongside Patrick Kennedy. Rachel draws inspiration from her passion for indigenous culture and art and is known for her evocative drawings and expert visual and verbal communication.

With her vast knowledge and experience in the industry, Rachel contributes more broadly to the architecture profession through teaching, mentoring and public lectures around Australia. She is currently the Chair of the University of Melbourne Architecture Advisory Board, a founding member of The Boyd Circle and has served the AIA as a lecturer, juror for the Victorian Chapter Awards and as a member of the AIA Honours Committee.

Ricci Bloch

Growing up in a creative family, Ricci was exposed to the creative world from an early age fostering her love for art and design. After gaining over ten years’ experience working for a number of respected Sydney Architectural practices, she established her own studio in 2016. Ricci Bloch Architecture + Interiors, creates spaces that are minimalist in their aesthetic and timeless in design.