Creating alternatives: stories about participation, collaboration and gender in architecture, the 1960s and 70s

Today, while there is a pressing need to rethink architectural practices in the face of societal, climatic, and ecological crises, better understanding how architects past have rethought their role contribution seem increasingly relevant. This article examines projects from 1960s 70s by two Danish women architects, Susanne Ussing Anne Marie Rubin, people with whom they worked. These actively wanted create living environments stimulate society did so practicing architecture differently. Starting significant contributions that Rubin made for exhibition ‘Alternative Architecture’ at Louisiana Museum Modern Art 1977, I discuss what strategies used alternative meant them. Rubin’s works only been scarcely discussed historians, yet contributed developing participatory approaches architecture, shifting epistemologies design planning, foregrounding women’s experiences, and, one project, addressing anti-racist agendas. Methodologically, propose ways working scant material official archives storying as collaboration rather than individual creation. builds on research carried out project Women Architecture 1925–1975 (www.womenindanisharchitecture.dk).