Architect Gertrude Kerbis worked for sixty years designing buildings in Chicago alongside more famous architects like Walter Gropius and Mies Van der Rohe. Preservation Magazine talks to her about her struggles as a woman in a male-dominated field.
Kerbis talks about working with Mies Van der Rohe:
"Oh, he was horrible! And Gropius wasn't so wonderful either. They really didn't think of women or their place in the world. Mies would not go out of his way for anyone. After I started at IIT, he set up a little team to investigate a really interesting problem, how to design a long-span structure for Chicago's convention center. He selected four students to get their graduate degree based on that study. I told him I wanted to do my own work. He said, you mean you want me to work with you on your project, and you will not work with me on mine? I said yes, and he never spoke to me again. I stuck it out in a corner, working on my own project."
FULL STORY: Chicago's First Lady of Modernism
The Third Coast Atlas Redefines the Legacy of the Great Lakes
A new book of maps, photographs, and essays considers the rich historic legacy of land use and transportation on and around the Great Lakes.
Olympics Lost, But Demolition of Gropius Building Goes Ahead
The Architect's Newspaper reports on the first demolition of a historic building on the Walter Gropius-designed Michael Reese hospital campus in Chicago, the proposed site of now-ditched plans for an Olympic Village.
Chicago's Olympic Pickle
As part of its bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics, Chicago has broad plans for a proposed Olympic Village. Preservationists are protesting, as those plans involve the demolition historic architecture by Walter Gropius. A decision has been delayed.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project
Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.
Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project
The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.
Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin
The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association