In 1950, the famous Le Corbusier was asked to design the new state capital of Chandigarh for Punjab following its separation and recent independence. The opportunity to create a new utopia was unparalleled- and is now seen as one of the greatest urban experiments in the history of planning and architecture. The city employed grid street patterns, European-style thoroughfares, and raw concrete buildings- the zenith of Corbusier’s ideals throughout his career. But what is lesser known about the ideation and realization of Chandigarh, was the woman who brought her experience of designing social housing across Africa to the project. For three years, working alongside Corbusier, and helping him design some of the best-known buildings in Chandigarh, was Jane Drew.
Jane Drew was one of the first women architects in the United Kingdom, and a strong pioneer of the Modern architecture movement in her country. Along with being a notable architect, she was also a teacher, a rumored spy for the Royal Family, a fierce advocate for women, and a strong believer in social housing for all even experimenting with projects in West Africa and Asia. Drew grew up in a family that believed in the power of education and creativity. Her father was a renowned designer of surgical instruments and her mother was a school teacher.
