Muslim Women in Architecture

An interactive discussion with Muslim Women in Architecture (MWA) - a collective working to empower, inspire and celebrate Muslim women in the built environment industry

Muslim Women in Architecture (MWA) is a network and collective working to empower, inspire and celebrate Muslim women in the architecture and built environment industry. MWA aims to provide a platform to not only support Muslim girls and women who want to pursue a career in the field, but to encourage an open discussion amongst those within the profession and outside. It is a safe space for underrepresented Muslim women to gain control of their narratives, and start a conversation around the inequality and adversity they regularly face but also a space where they can celebrate each other’s journeys and successes.

Collaborations include London Festival of Architecture, Architecture Foundation, and Soho House in the U.K. They were nominated by the Design Museum for the annual ‘Manifestos: Architecture for a New Generation’; a project that highlights new voices who are expanding the parameters of architecture in London in 2021.

As the industry starts to become less exclusive, we thought it would be fitting to use this opportunity to trace back and ‘learn how to have a conversation’. As architects, knowing how to have a conversation allows a genuine and enriching exchange and can be a great tool for the design process. Listening to engage in the conversation is paramount to any good discussion. This allows for those in the conversation to feel heard and understood—and that's when connections are built. It is important to remember that the point of conversation is not to argue or debate. The point of conversation is to listen, learn and enjoy. The best conversations we’ve had through MWA happens when everyone involved leaves their ego at the door and focuses on contributing what they can, asking questions and trying to understand the other person’s point of view. We propose to do an interactive discussion that will guide the audience through our work as well as prompts to engage in critical conversations.

Image: Curating Concourses-07 © Agnese Sanvito