Time Line

Chronological list (most recent first) of activities of the nominee(s) with related and evidenced indicators of excellence and recognition of significant contribution to architecture at a national / international level.

2019 Matrix one of two leading entries in UK section, Bloomsbury Global Encyclopedia of Women in Architecture

2018 Matrix exhibits in Still I Rise: feminisms, gender, resistance, Nottingham Contemporary, De La Warr Pavilion

2018 Initiative begun to republish Making Space

2018 Application to list Jagonari Educational Resource Centre

2017 Matrix exhibited and speaks at AA Women in Architecture 1917-2017

2017 Bradshaw receives Honorary Doctorate, University of Westminster.

2014– Significant publications by Dr Jos Boys on disability and architecture: in 2015 she co-founds the Disordinary Architecture Project

2005– Significant published research by de Graft Johnson into inclusivity and diversity in the architectural profession and architectural education.

2001– Significant input into Taking Place group of feminist spatial practitioners [Boys, Dwyer].

1990s- Conference presentations and keynotes to architectural conferences in Paris, Stockholm, Melbourne, London [Boys, Bradshaw, Dwyer, Francis, Ann de Graft Johnson, Thorne].

1999 Dwyer and Thorne keynote speakers at Alterities, a major international conference on feminism and architecture. (Doina Petrescu)

1997 Matrix exhibits in Drawing on Diversity: women, architecture and practice: at RIBA Heinz Gallery (Lynne Walker).

1990-5 Significant inputinto the Access Course for Women into Architecture and Building course set up byYvonne Dean, University of North London [Francis, Dwyer, Thorne].

1991 Thorne, Bradshaw found Anne Thorne Architects, an all women practice.

1990s Matrix disbands

1987 Key contributions to ‘Women’s Realm’ a weekend of workshops by the

Feminist Architects’ Network, North London Polytechnic.

1980s Significant input into Womens’ Design Service. [Jos Boys, Julia Dwyer] and Women in Manual Trades. [Bradshaw].

1980s Matrix established itself as a collective which continued to question how women inhabited and altered the built environment. It radically rethought its own practice structure from a feminist perspective, and the processes it used to design and deliver buildings.

Significant built projects include:

1988-90 Half Moon Young People’s Theatre, Tower Hamlets: conversion of Poplar Town Hall.

1988-90 Grosvenor Terrace Housing, Southwark new build housing for single homeless people.

1987-88 Pluto Lesbian and Gay Housing Co-operative, Islington: housing conversions

1986-88 Jumoke Training Nursery, Southwark: factory conversion.

1984-87 Jagonari Educational Resource Centre, Tower Hamlets: new build for Asian women’s organisation including crèche and large kitchen.

1984-85 Hackney Women’s Centre: shop conversion, with women builders.

1984-85 Dalston Children’s Centre, Hackney: conversion of disused baths.

Matrix evolved an expanded, networked view of design practice, incorporating technical aid delivery, education, creating publications, and participation in feminist architects’ networks and organisations. An early member of the Association of Community Technical Aid Centres, Matrix gained significant funding from the GLC to provide technical advice, enabling over 40 voluntary organisations which benefitted women to develop their premises. Client organisations included Brixton Black Women’s Centre, The Calthorpe Project, Bermondsey Women’s Centre, Hackney Asian Women’s Centre, Maxilla and Defoe Nurseries, Lambeth African Women’s Centre, Haringey Women’s Training/Education Centre and Charterhouse Women’s Project.

1986 -87 : A Job Designing Buildings published, encouraging young women to take

up careers in building and architecture, and Building for Childcare published, providing tools and advice for groups wishing to set up or design childcare facilities.

1980 Matrix Book Group, which comprised eight writers including Bradshaw, Frances, Macfarlane and Thorne, formed after the Women and Space conference (AA 1979), and began writing Making Space: Women and the man-made environment, a unique feminist critique of the built enviroment, published 1984.

1980 Matrix Feminist Design Co-operative founded by Frances Bradshaw, Anne Thorne, Barbara McFarlane and Susan Francis. Having met as undergraduates at Newcastle University they continued their studies in London [PCL, AA], forming alliances with other feminist students, actively participated in the New Architecture Movement,and in Bradshaw and Frances’ case, training in building trades alongside women builders. They devised ‘Home Truths’ (1979-), an exhibition exploring women, families and housing, which toured the UK during the 80s.