How to engage with material within an editorial process? Protocols of the research process of the special issue ‘Frauen in der Architektur—: Frauenarchitektur?’

Abstract

[EN] In 1979 the publication of the special issue 31/32 “Frauen in der Architektur—: Frauenarchitektur?” (Women in Architecture—: women’s architecture?) in the renowned architecture magazine Bauwelt marked a pivotal moment in the history of feminist architecture in West Germany. This issue was the first German publication to recognize women architects as integral to the profession. While the perspectives presented in the issue remain relevant today—such as calls for new working conditions for female architects—the articles’ themes do not fully align with current feminist discourses that now encompass intersectionality. By studying this historical milestone, we aim to understand the context in which it was published, its impact, and the responses of the conventional Bauwelt readership. To unlock its situated knowledge, we apply a methodology that acknowledges our own subjectivity and collaborative efforts, aiming to facilitate a dialogue with the material and our backgrounds. As we embark on the project of creating a book about the Bauwelt issue, we adopt an intuitive and dialogical approach, focusing on the unfolding process rather than a predetermined outcome. By promoting collective production, dissemination, and exchange of knowledge, we seek to develop resistant strategies and contribute to the ongoing discourse on feminist achievements in architecture.