Women in Architecture: Aulenti, Huxtable & Lambert at the Canadian Cultural Centre

The Canadian Cultural Centre in Paris will host Crossed Histories: Gae Aulenti, Ada Louise Huxtable, Phyllis Lambert on Architecture and the City from February 13 to May 17, 2025, showcasing the profound impact of three influential women in architecture. The exhibition opens on February 12, 2025, from 6 to 9 PM.

Curated by Léa-Catherine Szacka, with associate curator Catherine Bédard, the exhibition explores how Gae Aulenti, Ada Louise Huxtable, and Phyllis Lambert reshaped architectural discourse, advocating for historical preservation, urban transformation, and public engagement in a traditionally male-dominated field.

Women Architects Redefining the City

Born in the 1920s, Aulenti, Huxtable, and Lambert emerged as key figures in the transition from modernism to postmodernism, shaping how public spaces are designed and understood.

Léa-Catherine Szacka, in the exhibition’s catalogue (SKIRA-CCC, 2025), reflects on their shared philosophy:

“Gae Aulenti, Ada Louise Huxtable, and Phyllis Lambert all shared a belief in the need for public engagement in the creation of the city—both through public spaces and through public voices.”

Their work was instrumental in preserving architectural heritage while integrating contemporary urban development, ensuring cities reflect both their past and their evolving identities.

Exploring Five Iconic Architectural Projects

The exhibition moves beyond individual biographies to examine five key projects, illustrating the global impact of these women’s work:

•The Seagram Building and Plaza (New York) – A symbol of modernist corporate architecture.

•The Destruction of Pennsylvania Station (New York) – A pivotal moment in historic preservation advocacy.

• Montreal’s Grey Stone Documentation & the Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA) – A landmark initiative in urban heritage conservation.

•The Musée d’Orsay (Paris) – A transformation of a 19th-century railway station into a world-renowned museum.

•Piazzale Cadorna (Milan) – Aulenti’s redesign of a major public space in Milan.

These projects illustrate how architecture is not just about structures but about shaping public life, an idea central to the careers of Aulenti, Huxtable, and Lambert.

Connecting North America and Europe

Crossed Histories presents a comprehensive archive of architectural drawings, historical photographs, and documents, tracing the connections between North America (Canada and the United States) and Europe (France and Italy).

Additionally, the exhibition features exclusive 2024 interviews with notable architects and scholars:

•Phyllis Lambert (architect and founder of the CCA, Montreal)

•Alexandra Lange (architecture and design critic, New York)

•Mary McLeod (professor of architecture, Columbia University)

•Mirko Zardini (curator, architecture critic, former CCA director, Milan)

•Giovanna Borasi (current CCA director, Montreal)

•Maristella Casciato (curator, Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles)

•Barry Bergdoll (professor of art history and archaeology, Columbia University)

These insights reinforce the continued relevance of Aulenti, Huxtable, and Lambert’s contributions to architectural theory and urban planning.

Curatorial Vision and Academic Contributions

The exhibition benefits from the expertise of Léa-Catherine Szacka, an associate professor at the University of Manchester and vice president of the European Architectural History Network. Her research on postmodern architecture and exhibitions brings critical depth to the project.

Catherine Bédard, an art historian and curator, has led the Canadian Cultural Centre’s exhibition program for nearly 30 years, significantly expanding the influence of Canadian architecture and art in Europe.

Exhibition Design and Accompanying Book

The exhibition is designed by Studio Pitis e Associati (Milan), ensuring an engaging and immersive presentation of materials. A 144-page bilingual catalogue, published by SKIRA, features 50 illustrations and detailed essays on the architects’ legacies.

By weaving together personal histories, architectural achievements, and urban transformations, Crossed Histories offers a fresh perspective on how women architects have shaped the built environment. Hosted at the Canadian Cultural Centre in Paris, the exhibition highlights the enduring importance of women’s voices in architectural history and urban planning.

Through their designs, criticism, and activism, Gae Aulenti, Ada Louise Huxtable, and Phyllis Lambert not only changed cities but also redefined the role of women in shaping public spaces—a conversation that remains essential today.