RIBA president elect Jane Duncan explains why all girls should consider a career in her field. I was thirteen when I realised I wanted to be an architect. It was quite sudden. During an art outing on a summer day I noticed that my girlfriends were drawing flowers – while I was busily sketching the dull red brick buildings all around us. I suppose my ambitions shouldn’t have come as any surprise. My father was an architect. However, he never spoke about his work. When at the age of 16 I told him I wanted to follow in his footsteps, his response was uncompromising: ‘It's not a profession for girls.’ He never elaborated. 

In his world of 1950’s and 60’s construction he had never seen a woman as anything other than a secretary and I suspect he thought it would present too big a battle for me. All these years on, I’m grateful I rebelled and paid his view little heed......Continue Reading

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