Martha Thorne on the Future of Architecture, Gender Equality, and Post-Pandemic Design

Martha Thorne, Executive Director of the Pritzker Architecture Prize since 2005 and Dean of the IE School of Architecture and Design, discusses gender equality, architectural education, and post-pandemic scenarios. The 2020 Pritzker Prize was awarded to Yvonne Farrell and Shelley McNamara of Grafton Architects, marking the first time two women won together. Thorne notes this reflects an evolution away from the 'lone genius' model toward collaborative practice. Due to the pandemic, a celebratory film will be released in October 2020 instead of a physical ceremony. Thorne is optimistic about architects' ability to shape the post-Covid world, but not through a single global initiative; rather, through shared ideas and research. She predicts changes at all scales, from automatic doors and hand sanitizer stations to more flexible urban planning with less monofunctional zoning. At IE School of Architecture and Design, Thorne promotes a multidisciplinary, entrepreneurial approach that prepares students for diverse career paths. On gender equality, she acknowledges progress but warns that crises disproportionately affect women and minorities. She hopes subtle biases in education, practice, and cities will be exposed and debated, with education as a catalyst for change.