Architecture has long been framed as the work of singular visionaries, yet Beatriz Colomina, a leading theorist, historian, and curator, challenges this notion, arguing that architecture is inherently a collaborative endeavor. She critically examines how the myth of the lone genius—almost always depicted as male—has erased the contributions of countless women and entire teams involved in the design process. For Colomina, rethinking architecture means recognizing the complexities of collective work and dismantling the historical biases that have shaped the discipline's narratives.
As the founding director of the Program in Media and Modernity at Princeton University, Colomina also explores the profound ways in which technology and media reshape our built environment. In a world where remote work has blurred the boundaries between private and public space, she questions how architecture must adapt to new ways of living and working—particularly as the bed increasingly replaces the office as a primary workspace.
In your research, you've explored both gender and collaboration in architecture. How do these two themes intersect, and why is it important to rethink the way we recognize contributions in the field?
