Our story began with the perceived underrepresentation of women in the architectural scene in education, media and practice. A situation that a few decades ago could simply be explained by the low percentage of women students in architecture faculties, now has a much more complex causal context.​

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In Czech architectural faculties, over 60 % of all students identify themselves as women and each year, hundreds of them succesfully graduate.* However, only 20% of architects in leading positions in studios are women and the same goes for the position of city architects.** Where are these women professionals? And why do they make up only 35% of new members registered with Czech Chamber of Architects (ČKA)?*** 

Gradually, we have begun to uncover long-described phenomena such as gender pay gap, the glass ceiling in career progression, or greater pressure on women to combine work and family care. **** In addition, other disadvantages for certain groups of workers within the architectural profession that go beyond gender (e.g. precarious forms of labor*****) can be traced. Ultimately, it is the culture within the profession itself that creates a highly competitive environment with extreme pressure on performance. This is fostered by the often subjective evaluation criteria and individualistic approach that future architects are encouraged to adopt already at school.

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We want to change this. We want architecture as a discipline to be more inclusive, providing an inspiring environment for people with different life experiences and varying levels of privilege. We believe that the more diverse representation we can bring to the field, the better environment we will create not only for ourselves, but for society as a whole.

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* Data from study departments of all schools with recognized and related education according to ČKA.

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** Data available from the ČKA website and from the websites of schools with recognized and related education according to ČKA.

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*** 35 % represents the number of successfully authorized women architects only in recent years. The total number of authorized women architects is even smaller – about 25%. Data available from the ČKA website.

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**** Research data Working conditions of young architects (ERA21 magazine, issue 03/2020)

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*****According to the Working Conditions of Young architects survey, 48% of respondents work on a trade licence as freelance architects (without an employee status) for one main customer.