黑洞社区

Messieurs, Mesdames!

Stephanie Canham, at law firm Trowers and Hamlins, writing for www.building.co.uk this week, asks .

This week in 1939 this magazine, then called The Builder, seemed nonplussed as to how best to address women architects.

鈥淚n the realms of design and building organisation the woman architect has shown herself to be in no way inferior to her male counterpart,鈥� the article declares. Indeed 鈥渟he has on occasion shown herself to be his superior鈥�. But what to call a mixed partnership? Miss Sweetly and Mr Blueprint, no. Messrs. Sweetly and Blueprint, 鈥渋naccurate and bordering on the ungallant鈥�.

鈥淪ome settle the point by the curt 鈥楢rchitects: Sweetly and Blueprint鈥� but this merely avoids the issue and may even lead to confusion round about Christmas by which Miss Sweetly is awarded the cigars and Mr. Blueprint the stockings.鈥�

The magazine solved the problem that particular week by drawing attention to a very pleasant house (illustrated right) by 鈥淢esdames Gobb and Low鈥�.

To read the full article from 31 March 1939, go to