Spain: Matilde Ucelay Maortúa
Born in 1912 in Madrid, Spain, Matilde Ucelay Maortúa was the first professional woman architect in Spain and the first Spanish woman to hold a diploma in architecture, graduating from the Madrid School of Architecture in Madrid, Spain (1936). She served as secretary on the Governing Board of the College of Architects of Madrid (1937). At the outset of the Spanish Civil War, Ucelay Maortúa relocated to Valencia, Spain (1937), returning to Madrid after the war (1939). She faced repercussions for her participation on the Governing Board of Architects of Madrid, being charged with assistance to the rebellion and sanctioned by the Council of War (1942); her penalties included disqualification from working in the public sector, a temporary five-year ban on private professional practice, and a financial fine. Despite these challenges, she was able to establish an architectural office from her home and completed over 120 projects throughout her career. Matilde Ucelay Maortúa earned the Premio Nacional de Arquitectura de España (National Architecture Award of Spain) from the Government of Spain (2004), and earned recognition from Asociación La Mujer Construye (Women Build Association), which acknowledged her professional achievements (1998). In her honor, the city of Madrid named a garden on Calle Doménico Scarlatti “Matilde Ucelay Garden.” Ucelay Maortúa died in 2008 in Madrid, Spain.
References
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