1
00:00:17,148 --> 00:00:21,202
"I want this to be a gentlemen's club.

2
00:00:21,930 --> 00:00:25,360
Over here, I want to have
a long, wooden bar.

3
00:00:25,621 --> 00:00:28,376
Over there, I want
a comfortable seating area

4
00:00:28,376 --> 00:00:29,836
and a small kitchen.

5
00:00:30,272 --> 00:00:33,475
Downstairs, I want to have
rooms for massages

6
00:00:33,905 --> 00:00:37,861
and maybe some geishas
for the gentlemen's entertainment."

7
00:00:39,259 --> 00:00:42,303
I realize that what my client
is basically describing to me

8
00:00:42,303 --> 00:00:46,093
is a very fancy locker room
for powerful men.

9
00:00:46,355 --> 00:00:49,122
I felt my blood starting to boil,
and I knew then and there

10
00:00:49,122 --> 00:00:52,572
there is no way I can be
the architect of such a project.

11
00:00:53,266 --> 00:00:55,987
But still, I had to ask him one question:

12
00:00:57,270 --> 00:01:01,840
We're in 2017,
in the middle of New York City.

13
00:01:02,030 --> 00:01:05,581
Why wouldn't you consider
having this a women's club instead?

14
00:01:06,781 --> 00:01:12,011
His answer was short and simple
and completely caught me off guard.

15
00:01:13,001 --> 00:01:17,519
"Interesting you ask," he said.
"My wife asked me the same thing."

16
00:01:17,996 --> 00:01:21,430
"I really wouldn't mind it,
but I don't think a woman

17
00:01:21,430 --> 00:01:25,707
would be able to pay
the high membership fee

18
00:01:25,707 --> 00:01:27,987
I intend to charge here."

19
00:01:29,387 --> 00:01:31,290
Well, this was obviously not true,

20
00:01:31,290 --> 00:01:35,200
as New York houses maybe
the most successful women in the world.

21
00:01:35,563 --> 00:01:38,399
I was shocked that these
biased assumptions still happen

22
00:01:38,399 --> 00:01:42,899
and people want to create spaces like this
that promote gender inequality.

23
00:01:43,674 --> 00:01:47,794
I obviously never took on this project,
and neither did the firm I was working at.

24
00:01:48,166 --> 00:01:51,816
But there's a good chance
another architect would have.

25
00:01:52,234 --> 00:01:55,974
And these types of projects
will continue to be built.

26
00:01:57,317 --> 00:01:59,772
Being a woman
in a very masculine profession

27
00:01:59,772 --> 00:02:01,303
is a challenge.

28
00:02:01,303 --> 00:02:05,114
Architecture is often referred to
as "the boys' club."

29
00:02:05,114 --> 00:02:06,804
Rings familiar?

30
00:02:07,176 --> 00:02:10,335
Many times, I find myself
the only woman at the conference table

31
00:02:10,335 --> 00:02:12,504
and the only woman
at the construction site.

32
00:02:12,504 --> 00:02:15,650
There have been times
when I expressed my opinion

33
00:02:15,650 --> 00:02:19,047
and I was shushed
with a hand gesture to my face

34
00:02:19,047 --> 00:02:22,386
or explained by a man
to the rest of the room

35
00:02:22,386 --> 00:02:26,146
that I was very opinionated,
stubborn, and bossy.

36
00:02:26,146 --> 00:02:29,126
"Bossy." You've got to love that word.

37
00:02:30,482 --> 00:02:33,651
Architecture is often associated
with the physical act of building,

38
00:02:33,651 --> 00:02:35,447
which is mostly linked with men.

39
00:02:35,858 --> 00:02:36,798
For many years,

40
00:02:36,798 --> 00:02:41,158
women were not even allowed
to study architecture in universities.

41
00:02:41,763 --> 00:02:45,078
But today, about 50% of architecture
students are in fact women,

42
00:02:45,078 --> 00:02:46,079
yet,

43
00:02:46,079 --> 00:02:49,632
Can you guess how many
out of the top architecture firms

44
00:02:49,632 --> 00:02:51,922
in the world today are led by women?

45
00:02:53,264 --> 00:02:57,110
Three. Only three out of the top 100.

46
00:02:57,110 --> 00:02:59,051
You can just Google "famous architects,"

47
00:02:59,051 --> 00:03:01,761
and you'll immediately see
what I'm talking about.

48
00:03:02,013 --> 00:03:05,686
It is safe to say that most
women architects around the world

49
00:03:05,686 --> 00:03:07,615
don't get to higher positions.

50
00:03:07,615 --> 00:03:11,227
And they number much fewer
when it comes to decision-making roles,

51
00:03:11,227 --> 00:03:15,017
in firms and also on city boards,
commissions, and councils.

52
00:03:15,017 --> 00:03:17,560
When some are being recognized,

53
00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:20,636
they're often honored
as "women architects."

54
00:03:20,636 --> 00:03:23,285
They're not just architects
like the men are recognized,

55
00:03:23,285 --> 00:03:28,725
as if we are in a separate league
and we can't really compete with the men.

56
00:03:29,319 --> 00:03:33,031
But why should you care that
there are not enough women architects?

57
00:03:33,348 --> 00:03:34,443
Because it means

58
00:03:34,443 --> 00:03:38,402
that the majority of the built environment
we live in today around the world

59
00:03:38,402 --> 00:03:40,212
was designed by men -

60
00:03:40,712 --> 00:03:43,721
mostly white men, age 45 and up.

61
00:03:43,721 --> 00:03:45,673
They may be brilliant,

62
00:03:46,270 --> 00:03:51,539
but research shows it is human nature
to plan and design from self-experience.

63
00:03:51,957 --> 00:03:56,168
And when one narrow demographic
is the main planner and designer,

64
00:03:56,168 --> 00:03:59,120
it affects each and every one of us

65
00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:01,207
on a daily basis.

66
00:04:01,207 --> 00:04:03,927
It affects how we feel when we're at home

67
00:04:03,927 --> 00:04:06,387
or when we walk down the city streets

68
00:04:06,804 --> 00:04:08,854
or even at the office.

69
00:04:09,589 --> 00:04:12,254
For example, imagine
how our built environment would look

70
00:04:12,254 --> 00:04:15,124
if it was designed by elderly people.

71
00:04:15,618 --> 00:04:18,118
We would have
much more places to sit, right?

72
00:04:19,065 --> 00:04:21,722
And how about if it was
designed by millennials?

73
00:04:21,722 --> 00:04:24,992
We would have charger spots
and selfie stations everywhere.

74
00:04:26,136 --> 00:04:28,027
And if it was designed by parents -

75
00:04:28,027 --> 00:04:31,193
who took an active and equal role
in childcare, obviously -

76
00:04:31,918 --> 00:04:34,297
maybe the sidewalks would be wider,

77
00:04:34,534 --> 00:04:37,819
and the kindergartens, offices,
and places like the post office

78
00:04:38,150 --> 00:04:40,341
would be found closer together

79
00:04:40,341 --> 00:04:44,111
to help make those busy days
a bit easier to manage.

80
00:04:45,050 --> 00:04:49,085
When our built environment is good
and fits our needs,

81
00:04:49,085 --> 00:04:50,672
we don't really notice it.

82
00:04:50,672 --> 00:04:53,710
Kind of like we don't overthink
our body when it is healthy.

83
00:04:53,710 --> 00:04:56,957
But when there are problems,
we just know it.

84
00:04:56,957 --> 00:05:03,167
We feel unsafe. We feel uncomfortable.
We feel frustrated.

85
00:05:04,690 --> 00:05:07,433
Good architecture is more than
just beauty and aesthetics,

86
00:05:07,433 --> 00:05:12,953
it is when our built environment is
tailored to our personal, everyday rituals

87
00:05:12,953 --> 00:05:15,306
but it must come
from a diverse point of view,

88
00:05:15,306 --> 00:05:19,986
or in other words,
it must be equality-driven architecture.

89
00:05:21,494 --> 00:05:24,961
So I believe that when more women
would influence the built environment,

90
00:05:24,961 --> 00:05:28,253
there will be fewer dark or unlit streets.

91
00:05:28,253 --> 00:05:30,467
The diaper-changing tables
in public bathrooms

92
00:05:30,467 --> 00:05:35,157
would always be found
in both the men and the women toilets.

93
00:05:35,157 --> 00:05:36,387
Underground -
(Laughter)

94
00:05:36,387 --> 00:05:39,297
(Applause)

95
00:05:42,484 --> 00:05:45,949
Underground parking lots
may look completely different

96
00:05:45,949 --> 00:05:50,509
because their designers would consider
safety as their number-one priority.

97
00:05:51,103 --> 00:05:54,283
(Applause)

98
00:05:55,131 --> 00:06:01,514
And glass, transparent staircases
in fancy stores will just not exist

99
00:06:01,514 --> 00:06:04,544
because women also wear skirts, you know.

100
00:06:05,443 --> 00:06:07,753
(Applause)

101
00:06:08,503 --> 00:06:11,769
When design decisions are made
by a narrow demographic,

102
00:06:11,769 --> 00:06:14,671
it unintentionally
treats people differently.

103
00:06:14,671 --> 00:06:15,831
This has a name.


104
00:06:15,831 --> 00:06:18,521
It is called "discrimination by design,"

105
00:06:18,521 --> 00:06:22,231
and it affects various groups
and minorities in societies.

106
00:06:22,729 --> 00:06:27,979
From the poor to different ethnic groups,
to the elderly, to the LGBTQ community,

107
00:06:27,979 --> 00:06:29,694
and to women.

108
00:06:30,228 --> 00:06:34,684
So first, we have to agree that diversity
of architects and designers is important.

109
00:06:34,684 --> 00:06:39,564
And next, we must realize that women
are in fact not a minority group

110
00:06:39,564 --> 00:06:42,441
but actually are half of the population,


111
00:06:42,441 --> 00:06:45,951
and that gender equality
is a good place to start.

112
00:06:46,971 --> 00:06:49,941
(Applause)

113
00:06:53,161 --> 00:06:57,969
Imagine how different our world would look
if the people who design it

114
00:06:57,969 --> 00:07:02,730
would reflect the diversity
of the people they design for.

115
00:07:04,019 --> 00:07:07,079
(Applause)

116
00:07:07,634 --> 00:07:10,888
All of the examples I just gave
can be an amazing change

117
00:07:10,888 --> 00:07:14,368
and yet seem a bit small.

118
00:07:15,238 --> 00:07:17,502
I believe that
only by thinking big and far,

119
00:07:17,502 --> 00:07:19,681
we can really make changes happen,

120
00:07:19,681 --> 00:07:25,010
so when I got back from New York,
I decided to turn "bossy" into "boss"

121
00:07:25,730 --> 00:07:27,092
and open my own firm -

122
00:07:27,092 --> 00:07:28,455
(Laughter)
Thank you.

123
00:07:28,455 --> 00:07:31,465
(Applause)

124
00:07:33,279 --> 00:07:34,705
And open my own firm

125
00:07:34,705 --> 00:07:38,640
that is designed to combine architecture
with innovation and gender-equality ideas.

126
00:07:38,908 --> 00:07:42,545
I made it my mission
to not only become a top architect

127
00:07:42,545 --> 00:07:47,135
but to do so by actively working
for a cause I care so deeply about,

128
00:07:47,135 --> 00:07:49,257
which is gender equality.

129
00:07:49,645 --> 00:07:51,962
The very thing that held me back

130
00:07:51,962 --> 00:07:55,020
will now be the thing
that pushes me forward.

131
00:07:55,695 --> 00:07:59,104
So in the name of thinking big,
I want to tell you

132
00:07:59,104 --> 00:08:04,540
about a rather unique international
architecture competition I took part in

133
00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:07,890
and had the opportunity
to design a settlement ...

134
00:08:08,761 --> 00:08:10,421
on Mars.

135
00:08:11,288 --> 00:08:14,068
(Applause)

136
00:08:14,754 --> 00:08:16,255
You're probably thinking,


137
00:08:16,255 --> 00:08:19,082
What does Mars have to do
with equality-driven architecture?

138
00:08:19,082 --> 00:08:22,205
Well, I found this competition fascinating

139
00:08:22,205 --> 00:08:26,921
and decided to use Mars
as an opportunity to experiment

140
00:08:26,921 --> 00:08:30,501
with what equality-driven
architecture could look like.

141
00:08:30,501 --> 00:08:34,368
And I will show you how, but first,
I want to tell you why.

142
00:08:35,301 --> 00:08:36,973
If I were to ask you right now

143
00:08:36,973 --> 00:08:42,019
to imagine a world and society
as far into the future as you can,

144
00:08:42,962 --> 00:08:45,687
you'll probably be thinking
about things you know

145
00:08:45,687 --> 00:08:49,707
or places you've been to that may have
been there long before you were born

146
00:08:50,168 --> 00:08:52,683
or even things you've seen in movies.

147
00:08:52,683 --> 00:08:56,724
You'll be doing that because it is hard
to truly let go from what we know.

148
00:08:56,724 --> 00:09:00,342
But if I were to ask you
to imagine this future

149
00:09:00,342 --> 00:09:04,046
on a far foreign planet like Mars

150
00:09:04,719 --> 00:09:08,109
and ask you things like
"What would you take with you?"

151
00:09:08,109 --> 00:09:11,472
or "What would be the things
you would choose to leave behind?"

152
00:09:11,982 --> 00:09:14,857
I'm guessing you will not find
these questions intimidating

153
00:09:14,857 --> 00:09:16,606
but, rather, exciting

154
00:09:16,606 --> 00:09:19,461
and maybe have some good
and innovative ideas.

155
00:09:19,461 --> 00:09:21,303
You see, the Martian environment

156
00:09:21,303 --> 00:09:24,268
is very harsh and extremely
different than Earth,

157
00:09:24,268 --> 00:09:27,708
which allowed me to really go far
with my imagination.

158
00:09:28,442 --> 00:09:29,824
So for my Martian settlement,

159
00:09:29,824 --> 00:09:33,671
I decided to explore
the pure geometric shape of the circle.

160
00:09:34,268 --> 00:09:37,509
I found that circular shapes
of building complexes

161
00:09:37,509 --> 00:09:40,214
provides a natural sense of unity.

162
00:09:40,645 --> 00:09:44,394
Think about the way
people sit around the campfire

163
00:09:44,394 --> 00:09:46,884
or sit around the table,
there is no one seat

164
00:09:46,884 --> 00:09:49,088
that is more special
than the next, right?

165
00:09:49,088 --> 00:09:52,169
So, in that sense, the circle is
a magnificent structural way

166
00:09:52,169 --> 00:09:54,099
to promote equality.

167
00:09:54,847 --> 00:09:57,725
It is also practical
for defense against danger,

168
00:09:57,725 --> 00:10:01,355
like the shape of walls or water channels
guarding medieval cities

169
00:10:01,355 --> 00:10:03,685
like Milan or Paris.

170
00:10:04,023 --> 00:10:06,229
It was used in different ways
back in history,

171
00:10:06,229 --> 00:10:10,719
but as power systems such as religion
and governance came into play,

172
00:10:11,283 --> 00:10:15,084
both needing large, landmark buildings
that would stand out from the rest -

173
00:10:15,517 --> 00:10:18,568
and both also typically led
by one narrow demographic -

174
00:10:19,079 --> 00:10:22,319
the circular architecture was left behind.

175
00:10:23,407 --> 00:10:26,038
If you were to walk around
these circular settlements -

176
00:10:26,038 --> 00:10:28,548
which are kind of like
donut-shaped, right? -

177
00:10:28,548 --> 00:10:31,890
you would notice that the public functions
are always in the center,

178
00:10:31,890 --> 00:10:35,827
and they're surrounded by the private,
the residential areas.

179
00:10:35,827 --> 00:10:39,351
In that sense, the private is
always overlooking the public,

180
00:10:39,351 --> 00:10:44,561
which helps to eliminate unwatched
and therefore unsafe areas.

181
00:10:46,303 --> 00:10:49,606
Another thing that can be unsafe
looking from the equality lens

182
00:10:49,606 --> 00:10:52,476
are means of mobility,
both indoor and out.

183
00:10:52,992 --> 00:10:56,971
Indoor means of mobility
are elevators and staircases,

184
00:10:56,971 --> 00:10:59,331
which are usually closed spaces

185
00:10:59,331 --> 00:11:03,217
that can bring uncomfortable encounters
between different genders.

186
00:11:03,982 --> 00:11:07,490
The Martian low gravity
allowed me to eliminate both things:

187
00:11:07,490 --> 00:11:09,688
get rid of the closed spaces,

188
00:11:09,688 --> 00:11:14,088
and also benefit from a more compact
and efficient floor plan.

189
00:11:15,543 --> 00:11:18,027
By basing my architecture
on the ability of humans

190
00:11:18,027 --> 00:11:21,351
to jump higher with the help of machines
I call "suction boosters"

191
00:11:21,351 --> 00:11:23,588
[that] I placed on ceiling corners,

192
00:11:23,588 --> 00:11:26,282
people can now jump from floor to floor.

193
00:11:27,439 --> 00:11:31,789
How often do architects on Earth question
the existence of elevators and staircases?

194
00:11:32,366 --> 00:11:35,766
Let's question outdoor
transportation as well.

195
00:11:36,496 --> 00:11:39,535
We can avoid altogether
the idea of underground parking,

196
00:11:39,535 --> 00:11:41,428
which can be unsafe,

197
00:11:41,428 --> 00:11:45,814
avoid traffic and pollution
and also avoid unwanted physical contact

198
00:11:45,814 --> 00:11:49,938
that can result from crowding
on public transportation.

199
00:11:50,498 --> 00:11:54,810
Instead, we can travel in electronically
operated tunnels underground,

200
00:11:54,810 --> 00:11:57,455
choosing who we travel with.

201
00:11:57,455 --> 00:12:01,759
You see, the Martian settlement,
which offers a clean slate,

202
00:12:01,759 --> 00:12:04,371
helps us experiment freely

203
00:12:04,371 --> 00:12:07,988
and truly understand
the benefits of change.

204
00:12:09,706 --> 00:12:12,026
I ended up not winning the competition -

205
00:12:12,026 --> 00:12:13,590
(Laughter)

206
00:12:13,590 --> 00:12:16,580
(Applause)

207
00:12:18,019 --> 00:12:21,179
but what I did gain
is this new perspective

208
00:12:21,179 --> 00:12:24,928
and these three
equality lessons from Mars.

209
00:12:25,728 --> 00:12:29,298
Lesson number one:
bypass cognitive fixations.

210
00:12:30,015 --> 00:12:33,543
I realized I could use Mars
as an alternative channel

211
00:12:33,543 --> 00:12:35,757
to think and talk about things

212
00:12:35,757 --> 00:12:40,278
that otherwise were too uncomfortable
or complicated to imagine,

213
00:12:40,278 --> 00:12:43,108
just like when I asked you
to imagine the far future.

214
00:12:44,023 --> 00:12:46,296
Thinking of our life
on a whole different planet

215
00:12:46,296 --> 00:12:50,286
can be a tool to help us
get past cognitive fixations,

216
00:12:50,286 --> 00:12:52,775
which is when we only act
from what we know,

217
00:12:52,775 --> 00:12:54,873
and we do this unconsciously.

218
00:12:54,873 --> 00:12:57,749
So, next time you encounter such a block,

219
00:12:57,749 --> 00:13:01,236
try to use an example
outside of your everyday life.

220
00:13:01,236 --> 00:13:03,986
I can lend you my Mars if you want.

221
00:13:05,051 --> 00:13:06,370
Lesson number two:

222
00:13:06,370 --> 00:13:09,754
equality-driven architecture
is an actual thing.

223
00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:12,614
My Martian settlement offers one option

224
00:13:12,614 --> 00:13:16,307
as to how equality-driven
architecture could look like.

225
00:13:16,556 --> 00:13:19,501
It is one out of many possible outcomes

226
00:13:19,501 --> 00:13:24,343
to both looking at the built environment
from a woman's perspective

227
00:13:24,343 --> 00:13:28,383
and also to what happens
when we step outside our comfort zone.

228
00:13:29,236 --> 00:13:30,588
How else could it look like?

229
00:13:30,588 --> 00:13:34,248
Well for that, we'll first need
a true diversity of architects.

230
00:13:34,851 --> 00:13:37,111
And finally, lesson number three:

231
00:13:37,786 --> 00:13:39,191
why wait?

232
00:13:39,741 --> 00:13:42,615
I personally believe
that the day is not far

233
00:13:43,081 --> 00:13:46,561
when we will be faced
with some tough sociological questions

234
00:13:46,561 --> 00:13:48,874
regarding actual life on Mars.

235
00:13:48,874 --> 00:13:52,431
And when this day comes,
we have to be confident

236
00:13:52,431 --> 00:13:56,560
that this reality on Mars
has equality written all over it

237
00:13:56,560 --> 00:13:59,311
and also know exactly how to get there.

238
00:13:59,751 --> 00:14:01,950
But if we know how to get there,

239
00:14:01,950 --> 00:14:05,991
What stops us making this equal society
a reality here on Earth?

240
00:14:07,112 --> 00:14:09,890
We are born into architecture.

241
00:14:10,371 --> 00:14:13,108
It doesn't matter
if it is in a city hospital

242
00:14:13,108 --> 00:14:15,585
or a village or a camp;

243
00:14:15,585 --> 00:14:18,835
it was designed and laid out by someone.

244
00:14:19,237 --> 00:14:22,075
We go through life being influenced
by our built environment

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and never stop and ask
"Is it good enough for me?"

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At the end of the day,

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we are here on our blue planet
for a relatively short period of time,

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so why wouldn't you demand

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that this life would be planned
perfectly for you?

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And it will only happen
when diversity will work for diversity.

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Mars, the Red Planet,
is not so far from humanity's reach.

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But why wait until we get there

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when we can start the change
right here, right now?

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Thank you.

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(Applause)