LGBTQ Architects
There are many LGBTQ Architects around the world who have made notable contributions to the design and building of iconic buildings and homes. Each has used their own personal design elements and style to create memorable architectural wonders. Many have applied their architecture skills to other artistic endeavors, such as painting and furniture design.
Louis Sullivan, a gay American architect, is often referred to as the 'Father of Skyscrapers' and the 'Father of Modernism'. He represents the inauguration of a long line of LGBTQ architects.
Many global architectural organizations include working groups of LGBTQ architects. For example, the American Institute of Architects sponsors an annual diversity conference focusing on the links between gender, sexuality, and cultural experience. This is an important step to establishing role models for the community within the profession, something which is currently lacking according to recent surveys.
The British Architectural Journal recently completed a survey of the UK's LGBTQ architects. What is interesting is that this survey showed architects being comfortable with being out at the workplace but not so in relation to their clients and at the construction site. This presents quite a conundrum for practicing architects and reveals that much work on tolerance must still be done in the profession. As a result, a new support and social network for LGBTQ architects was launched in the UK in 2016 – Architecture LGBT+. The organization points out that no architectural firm ranks in the top LGBTQ employers list in the country.
The epitome for an LGBTQ architect would be to design a building for specific use by the community itself. This includes community centres, homeless centres, medical facilities, and more. This raises the question as to whether being a gay architect influences the design process and output for the individual?
The architects who publicly identify as LGBTQ hail from countries as diverse as Brazil, Canada, Sri Lanka, Argentina, Great Britain, Mexico, the United States, France, South Africa, Cypress, and Germany. Simply click on their names to read their fascinating biographies.
- Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lanka
- Phyllis Birkby, United States
- Alan Buchsbaum, United States
- John Chute. Great Britain
- Nigel Coates. Great Britain
- Ralph Adams Cram, United States
- Barry Dierks, United States
- Arthur Erickson, Canada
- Roger Ferri, United States
- Pierre Francois Leonard Fontaine, France
- Bruce Alonzo Goff, United States
- Jane Greenwood, United States
- Tom Guy, Great Britain
- Matthias Hollwich, United States
- Carlos Huber, Mexico
- Franklin D. Israel, United States
- Philip Johnson, United States
- Mark Kaminski, United States
- Marc Kushner, United States
- Pierre Charles L'Enfant, United States
- Lota de Macedo Soares, Brazil
- Rodolfo Machado, Argentina
- Juergen Mayer-Hermann, Germany
- Michael McClelland, Canada
- Alecos Modinos, Cypress
- Charles Moore, United States
- Charles Percier, France
- Andre Piva, Brazil
- Lionel Pries, United States
- Charles Renfro, United States
- Harry Rich, Great Britain
- Howard Rideout, Canada
- Mark Robbins, United States
- Paul Rudolph, United States
- Stanley Saitowitz, United States
- David Schwarz, United States
- Jorge Silvetti, Argentina
- Robert A. M. Stern, United States
- Louis Sullivan, United States
