Retrospective on a fishbowl discussion Women in Architecture – the Cypriot context
The Goethe-Institut Cyprus is one of a number of organisations in Cyprus that has dealt and is dealing with the subject of gender and gender equality. From December 2021 until March 2022 it organised the exhibition “Frau Architekt”. The exhibition was developed by the Deutsches Architekturmuseum in Frankfurt and it was expanded by a chapter presenting women architects in Cyprus which was curated by Teresa Tourvas and Müge Riza. The presentation of Frau Architekt in Nicosia, constitutes the first dedicated exhibition celebrating the work of women architects from Cyprus.
Towards the end of the exhibition, which had been extended, a fishbowl discussion was organised. This happened to be only the second such discussion taking place in Cyprus, to the knowledge of all involved. The first one, titled "Women in architecture", had taken place not long before, specifically on 6 November 2021 at the SPEL and it was organised by the Cyprus Architects Association. Looking back at the fishbowl discussion organised at the Goethe-Institut Cyprus on 12 March 2022, many of the thoughts, experiences and questions shared still remain as relevant as ever. Some go beyond the subject of architecture and refer to the professional life and status of women in general.
We are sharing some individual thoughts and excerpts from the stories shared by some of the female architects that participated at the discussion.