Beyond Building

Architecture and Gender in Nineteenth-Century France
Beyond Building examines architecture in nineteenth-century France through the lens of gender, making a case for the adoption of an expansive view of architecture and the inclusion of previously excluded makers and works.

Beyond Building offers a groundbreaking exploration of nineteenth-century French architecture through the lens of gender, focusing on the years 1852 to 1902.

Highlighting the creative work of four women and one nonbinary individual, this book reveals that architectural production extended beyond men, even when only men could be officially certified as architects. Drawing on diverse materials, including poetry, photography, archaeological artifacts, literary fiction, theater sets, and journalism, Beyond Building brings to light the contributions of those long excluded from architectural scholarship due to their gender. This book advocates for a more expansive understanding of architecture’s history by including overlooked makers and works. It examines figures such as Jane Dieulafoy, whose gender-fluid life as an archeologist in Iran is captured in colonial-era writings; Marie Krysinska, the only woman in the free-verse poetry movement; photographer Geneviève-Élisabeth Disdéri and the Countess de Castiglione, who linked architecture and early photography; the hidden career of journalist Laure Labrouste; and the American Julia Morgan, the first woman certified as an architect in France.

Through these case studies, Beyond Building demonstrates how considering gender alongside architecture opens new perspectives on artistic innovation, imperialism, and cultural change in nineteenth-century France.

UK Delivery:

• Free delivery on all orders of £10 or more.
• £1.49 delivery fee on orders below £10.
• UK orders are shipped via Royal Mail 2nd Class.

International Delivery:

• Flat rate delivery charges vary by country.

Dispatch and Delivery Times:

• All orders are shipped from our warehouse in Northampton, UK within 48 hours of receipt during working hours.
• UK mainland orders typically arrive within 3-5 working days via Royal Mail 2nd Class.
• International estimated delivery times:
• Europe & Channel Islands: 7 to 10 working days
• USA: 7 to 15 working days
• Rest of the World: 9 to 21 working days

View our full delivery infomation here.