Are Women Better Planners And Architects?

"Putting women in charge of designing our towns and cities would make them more practical and user-friendly, a new study has claimed.

Almost nine out of 10 adults in Britain think more women should be involved in designing our towns and buildings, a survey has discovered.

The result is an indictment of decades of urban design focused on technology and easy access by car.

Experts say houses designed by women can be more attuned to family lifestyles, but few women have reached the top of architectural or engineering professions."

"The survey by engineering consultancy Atkins found 88% of British adults think more women should be involved in building towns and cities.

Most of the people questioned believed buildings would be more user-friendly and practical, and better places to live and work, if more women were involved in their design and construction.

But one-third of women are put off a career in this sector because they believe it is dominated by men, a figure that rises to half among recent graduates.

Alun Griffiths, Atkins' human resources director, said, "Our most successful projects bring the diverse skills from across our workforce together. Our own experience suggests women are particularly strong at collaboration and partnership – essential skills in any project.""