5 Iconic Projects Designed by Women in Architecture

March 8, 2025

Visionary minds have long shaped the architecture industry, yet women architects have fought for recognition in a male-dominated field for decades. Today, their contributions are undeniable, with groundbreaking projects that push the boundaries of design, functionality, and sustainability. This article highlights a few remarkable projects led by women architects that demonstrate their profound impact on modern architecture.

1. Heydar Aliyev Center – Zaha Hadid

Zaha Hadid’s Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan, is a remarkable example of architectural fluidity and innovation. The building features a sinuous, wave-like form that challenges traditional architectural norms, creating an uninterrupted spatial experience. Renowned for her bold and futuristic designs, Hadid proved that architecture can be functional and sculptural. The center is a cultural hub that embodies modernity and movement in its design.

2. The Louvre Abu Dhabi – Jean Nouvel with Hala Wardé

Hala Wardé had an essential role in the design and execution of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, a project that combines cultural elements with contemporary design. Inspired by traditional Arabic patterns, the project's iconic dome creates a “rain of light” effect, creating a poetic interplay of light and shadow. Wardé’s influence on the project highlights the significance of thoughtful, experience-driven architecture that connects historical context and modern aesthetics.

3. Casa de Música – Gabriela Carrillo

Gabriela Carrillo's Casa de la Música in Mexico is a space designed to promote music and the arts, encouraging collaboration and cultural exchange. The building integrates indoor and outdoor spaces and uses local materials like wood and stone to create a connection with its natural surroundings. The design focuses on accessibility and inclusivity, making it a space open to all. Carrillo’s approach demonstrates how architecture can serve social purposes, providing a platform for community engagement and cultural dialogue.

4. The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership – Jeanne Gang

Jeanne Gang’s Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership at Kalamazoo College in Michigan is an example of architecture as a tool for dialogue and change. The curved walls, made from locally sourced wood masonry, foster a sense of openness and community. Gang’s work often blurs the line between architecture and social activism, focusing on sustainability and collective engagement.

5. La Seine Musicale – Shigeru Ban with Jean de Gastines and Lucie Niney

La Seine Musicale in Paris was partly shaped by the expertise of Lucie Niney, co-founder of NeM Architects. The project merges ecological consciousness with aesthetic elegance and incorporates a solar-paneled sail that follows the sun’s movement. This approach reflects a commitment to sustainability and innovation.

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Bow: Curved Views and Quiet Luxury Over Lisbon

By OTIIMA MMTW • April 30, 2025

In the heart of Lisbon, where the city begins to rise and the river still whispers in the distance, a new residential building stands with confidence. Bow, designed by Ana Costa Arquitetura and developed by Prime Portugal, redefines what it means to live above the Marquês de Pombal. Bow opens to Lisbon’s shifting light and long horizons from the upper levels. Its form embraces the curvature of the landscape, while its architecture speaks in soft, decisive lines. Within those lines, OTIIMA plays a leading role.

The Language of Modern Mediterranean Architecture

By OTIIMA MMTW • April 24, 2025

There is a particular kind of silence in Mediterranean architecture. A silence made of sun-bleached walls, filtered light passing through wooden slats, and open courtyards that breathe with the wind. Today, this timeless language is being rewritten—minimal, restrained, and yet deeply rooted in the rituals of the land. A Tradition Reinvented Modern Mediterranean architecture doesn’t mimic the past. It refines it. The terracotta is still warm, the limestone still rough, but now the lines are sharper, the spaces more fluid. Architects are reclaiming the vernacular, not as nostalgia, but as a source of resilience, comfort, and sensory clarity. Its architecture is made to age with grace. Made for slowness, for texture, for shadow.

A Conversation with Laney LA on the SC Residence

By OTIIMA MMTW • April 17, 2025

At the heart of every Laney LA project lies the pursuit of something greater, timeless yet undeniably fresh. In SC Residence, the Los Angeles-based studio partnered with OTIIMA to push boundaries in aesthetics and performance. We sat down with the architects behind the project to discuss their approach, the power of collaboration, and how innovation can shape the cities of tomorrow. A Practice Rooted in Time and Experimentation For Laney LA, design is not simply a choice between old and new; it’s about finding the balance between the two. “Our studio is constantly searching for a design that embodies timelessness and innovation. Timelessness includes staying power and that rare ability to remain relevant over time. Innovation feeds our curiosity as we are oriented toward noticing new ideas.” This mindset requires continually questioning conventional design norms. Which rules are worth preserving, and which are meant to be broken? For Laney LA, the tension between the two is where meaningful architecture begins.

How to Find and Develop Architectural Ideas and Inspiration

By OTIIMA MMTW • April 10, 2025

In architecture, inspiration is everything. It drives concepts, shapes materiality, and defines the experience of space. But finding fresh ideas, especially in a fast-paced, globalized industry, requires more than scrolling through image feeds or revisiting old references. It demands a mindset of curiosity, observation, and intention. Here are six practical ways to uncover and turn meaningful architectural inspiration into project-defining ideas. 1. Diversify Your Sources of Inspiration Expand your creative horizons by exploring areas beyond architecture, such as art, literature, music, and nature. This holistic approach can introduce innovative concepts that can be adapted into your architectural work. Tip : Shift your perspective by exploring different forms of creativity to break through creative blocks.

Architecture and Design Events Not to be Missed in April 2025

By OTIIMA MMTW • April 3, 2025

The world of architecture and design is filled with inspiring events throughout the year, but April stands out as a particularly dynamic month. With a lineup of prestigious exhibitions, fairs, and industry gatherings, it offers a unique opportunity to engage with groundbreaking ideas and emerging trends. In this article, we explore the top architecture and design events taking place this April, from the artistic influence of Art Paris to the innovation showcased at Expo 2025 Osaka. Art Paris 2025 Grand Palais Éphémère, Paris | April 3–6, 2025 A celebration of contemporary art, Art Paris returns with a focus on architectural influences in modern creative expression. Featuring an impressive selection of galleries, this edition highlights the dialogue between art and space, offering a unique perspective for architects seeking inspiration beyond traditional frameworks.

Five Lessons from Mies van der Rohe for Architects Today

By OTIIMA MMTW • March 27, 2025

March 27 marks the anniversary of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. His philosophy, built on clarity, simplicity, and material honesty, continues to inspire contemporary architecture. His work embodies a timeless vision that remains as relevant as ever. Here are five key lessons architects today can learn from Mies van der Rohe. Less is More Perhaps his most famous principle, “Less is more,” summarizes Mies’ approach to design: stripping away the unnecessary to reveal the essential. His buildings are characterized by clean lines, open floor plans, and an absence of ornamentation. This philosophy encourages architects to prioritize spatial clarity and material integrity, resulting in structures that are modern and enduring.

The Essence of Scandinavian Architecture and Design

By OTIIMA MMTW • March 20, 2025

Scandinavian architecture and design represent a deep connection between nature, functionality, and the human experience. Grounded in a landscape of vast fjords, endless forests, and soft northern light, it reflects a unique philosophy and way of life. The Origins The origins of Scandinavian architecture date back to the Viking era, when timber structures and intricate carvings reflected a profound connection to materiality and craftsmanship. As centuries unfolded, this reverence for natural materials persisted, evolving with the changing needs of modern society. The early 20th century witnessed the emergence of Nordic Classicism, a restrained yet elegant style that soon gave way to a more functional and human-centric approach: Scandinavian Modernism.

Belgian Architecture: A Mosaic of Heritage and Modernism

By OTIIMA MMTW • March 13, 2025

Belgium’s topography is a delicate balance between history and modernity. From Bruges's medieval charm to Antwerp and Brussels's bold contemporary structures, architecture here is a study in balance. Minimalism finds a profound expression where clean lines, raw materials, and seamless transitions define space. At OTIIMA, we are privileged to contribute to this evolving narrative, shaping spaces where glass dissolves into air, thresholds blur, and architecture becomes an experience. In Belgium, three projects reference our philosophy: Villa Izegem, Villa P, and Villa V à Harelbeke. Villa Izegem | Govaert & Vanhoutte Architects Villa Izegem is an ode to minimalism in its purest form. Govaert & Vanhoutte Architects sculpted a space where vast glass expanses erase the boundary between nature and dwelling. The land breathes through the structure, light carving its way across surfaces, shifting with time. OTIIMA’s ultra-slim profiles amplify this sense of weightlessness, ensuring that nothing interrupts the dialogue between inside and out. The villa is not simply inhabited; it’s a quiet retreat where transparency is the ultimate luxury.

Liu Jiakun Awarded 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize

By OTIIMA MMTW • March 6, 2025

Chinese architect Liu Jiakun has been honored with the 2025 Pritzker Architecture Prize, recognizing his contributions to contemporary architecture. This prestigious award, often called the "Nobel Prize of Architecture," celebrates Liu's work, which harmoniously blends traditional Chinese aesthetics with modern functionality.

The Architectural Influence in Cinema

By OTIIMA MMTW • February 27, 2025

As the 2025 Academy Awards approach, the spotlight is once again on the art of filmmaking, a fusion of storytelling, visual composition, and immersive world-building. Among the many crafts that shape a film’s identity, set design plays a pivotal role in defining cinematic spaces' realism and aesthetic coherence. The relationship between film and architecture is more than just a visual spectacle; it studies how space, light, and structure influence perception and emotion.