In the article “Lin Huiyin, House Beautiful, and women’s place in architectural culture in the United States in the 1920s,” topics surrounding how women were able to navigate and contribute to the architectural field during a time when the field was predominantly male. The article argues that women took use of the platforms available to them, like House Beautiful magazines, in order to assert their presence. Some well-known women were Lin Huiyin, Ethel Power, Louise Blanchard Bethune, Minerva Parker Nichols, and Eleanor Raymond, who challenged traditional gender roles and expanded the boundaries of architectural practice specifically for women.
One point is that during the 1920s, society limited the level of participation women were allowed to have in professional architecture. Some exceptions to this were publications like House Beautiful, where countless women were encouraged to engage with architectural ideas by focusing on home design and aesthetics. Some topics women discussed in the magazines included interior design, spatial planning, and the integration of beauty and functionality in the home.
Another point is how Lin Huiyin was educated in the United States and exemplified the transnational exchange of architectural ideas. She was the first woman from China to study architecture in the United States, studying at the Unviersity of Pennsylvania where she was exposed to Western architectural styles. She then later integrated these styles with traditional Chinese aesthetics when she returned to China, enriching Chinese architecture. She produced a lot of writings and designs which contributed to a unique dialogue that was a blend of Eastern and Western principles.
Figure 1. Article Written by a Woman
House Beautiful, November 1971, no. 113 pt. 2, pg. 113
This is a photo from an article written by Natalie Schram. It shows how women were encouraged and welcomed to be part of the magazine and how they were able to write articles for them.
Figure 2. Jin Gui Restaurant
https://joycewangstudio.com/design/jin-gui/
This is a photo from a very well known Chinese interior designer, Joyce Wang. She has her own firm and has been very successful.