This volume investigates the often-overlooked contributions of women to the fields of architecture and interior design between 1860 and 1960. Editors Brenda Martin and Penny Sparke compile a series of scholarly essays that challenge traditional, male-centric narratives of design history. By examining specific case studies and professional trajectories, the authors argue that women played a pivotal role in shaping both domestic spaces and public architectural environments during this century of rapid social change.

Experts identify this collection as a foundational text for understanding the gendered history of the built environment. Scholars frequently cite the work for its rigorous archival research and its success in expanding the canon of architectural history beyond traditional male figures.