Hey y’all!! Cannot believe we are almost done with the semester; it has absolutely flown by. That being said, we’re getting close to the completion of our written prospectus so here’s the draft of my approach and schedule:

This capstone investigates the question: How did political context affect the evolution of modernism through female architects in the postwar era? The approach is grounded in a combination of historical inquiry and comparative analysis, using architecture not only as a physical documentation but as a reflection of broader social and political forces. Rather than treating modernism as a singular, universal style, this project views it as a flexible framework shaped by local conditions, institutional structures, and individual agency. In particular, the work centers on how female architects navigated and reshaped modernism in environments which often limited their visibility and authority. 

At its core, this research draws from a socio-cultural perspective on architecture, which understands design as inseparable from its historical and political context. This aligns with scholarship that critiques the idea of modernism as a neutral or purely functional movement, instead emphasizing how power structures, including gender and governance, influence architectural style. The project also engages with feminist historical research, which seeks to recover overlooked contributions of women and to question why certain figures have been excluded from dominant narratives. By combining these perspectives, the capstone frames female architects not as exceptions, but as active participants whose work reveals how the modernist movement adapted across different political contexts. 

To investigate this question, the primary research strategy will be a comparative, biographical precedent study focused on two female architects working in the post-World War II period: one based in the United States, Eleanor Raymond,  and one in Brazil, Lina Bo Bardi. These locations were selected due to their distinct political and cultural conditions during the mid-20th century. The United States, emerged from the war as global superpower and experienced economic expansion and institutional consolidation which shaped architectural practice through corporate and academic systems. In contrast, Brazil underwent rapid modernization alongside shifting political regimes, including periods of democratic governance and military dictatorship, which influenced architectural expression. By comparing these contexts, the project aims to reveal how differing political climates affected opportunities, constraints, and design approaches for women in architecture. 

The precedent study will be supported by a literature based methodology, relying on secondary sources such as books, academic journals, archival publications, and existing biographies. Key texts including Mary Anne Hunting’s Women Architects at Work: Making American Modernism, and Louise Monzingo’s Pastoral Capitalism, will provide a foundation for understanding modern architecture in the United States, with Hunting’s text emphasizing the role women had in shaping modernism. Additionally, sources on Brazilian modernism and political history will be used to contextualize the second case study, especially The Space Between: Literature and Culture 1914-1945, published by the University of Southern California, it is a peer reviewed journal dedicated to cultural responses leading up to the end of WWII. While this is not explicitly post-war, understanding Brazil before and after the war will be vital to contextualizing the capstone. Through this research, each architect’s history within the field will be analyzed in relation to the political conditions in which it was produced, paying attention to factors such as access to commissions, institutional affiliations, and public reception of their work.

In terms of specific tactics, the project will involve close reading and synthesis of scholarly texts, as well as visual analysis of architectural drawings and built projects. Comparative diagrams may be developed to map relationships between political events and architectural developments, helping to make the connections more explicit. While the primary focus is on written scholarship, the inclusion of visual material will support a more comprehensive understanding of each architect’s design approach. If available, primary sources such as interviews, letters, or archival documents may also be incorporated to provide additional insight into the architects’ perspectives and careers. 

The scope of the project will be delimited to maintain clarity and depth of research. The research will focus on the post World War II period, roughly from the mid 1940s through the 1970s, a time when modernism was widely adopted, yet actively contested. Geographically, the study will be limited to two countries with differing contexts, the United States and Brazil, allowing for a focused comparison between two distinct yet influential contexts. The project will also focus on modernist architecture, while acknowledging that modernism itself encompasses a range of interpretations. Finally, the selection of two case studies: Eleanor Raymond and Lina Bo Bardi, ensures that the analysis remains manageable while still allowing for meaningful comparison.

The research will be conducted over two semesters, with each semester dedicated to one case study. It should be noted, while I have selected these case studies right now, they may be tentative to change once I begin my capstone research. The first phase will focus on Eleanor Raymond’s work within the United States and it will begin with a broad review of postwar political and architectural history, followed by an in depth study of her biography and work. This will include identifying key projects, analyzing their design characteristics, and situating each project within its political context. The second semester will follow a similar structure for Lina Bo Bardi, while also incorporating ongoing comparative analysis between the two contexts. 

A preliminary sequence of work is as follows: 

Semester 01:

Phase 01: Conduct background research on postwar modernism, political context, and feminist architectural history. Finalize selection of case study architects. 

Phase 02: Develop detailed research on the first case study including biographical analysis and project documentation.

Phase 03: Synthesize findings from the first case study and begin drafting the written analysis

Semester 02:

Phase 04: Repeat research and analysis process from the second case study, while integrating comparative insights.

Phase 05: Refine comparative framework, complete final writing, and develop any supporting visual material.

Through my approach, this capstone aims to demonstrate that modernism is not a fixed ideology, but a dynamic field shaped by political forces and individual actors. By focusing on female architects in particular, the project highlights perspectives that have often been marginalized, offering a more nuanced understanding of the evolution of modernism throughout the post war period.

As always thank you for reading and comment below any suggestions for continuation of my research or improvements to my prospectus.