Switzerland: Lux Guyer
Born in 1894 in Zurich, Switzerland, Lux Guyer was the first woman architect to establish an independent architectural firm in Switzerland (1924). Guyer studied interior design at the Kunstgewerbeschule Zurich (Zurich School of Applied Arts) in Switzerland then continued her education and studied architecture and art history at the Technische Hochschule (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) Zurich (c. 1916-1918). Guyer completed apprenticeships with architectural firms in both Zurich, Switzerland, and Berlin, Germany. She then traveled to Paris, France; London, England; and Florence, Italy, to further study architecture (1918–1924). When she returned to Zurich, Guyer established her own architectural firm (1924), offering architectural and interior design services. Lux Guyer was also the principal architect for the first Schweizerische Ausstellung für Frauenarbeit (Swiss Exhibition of Women’s Work – SAFFA) exhibition in Bern, Switzerland (1928). Guyer died in 1955 in Zurich.
References
Balland, Ludovic, Emanuel Christ, Christoph Gantenbein, and Sven Richter, eds. Lux Guyer—Obere Schiedhalde: Renovation of a House from 1929. Park Books, 2024. https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/L/bo220155610.html.
Bucher, Annemarie. “Connections, Displacements, and Overlays.” e-flux Architecture, May 2025. https://www.e-flux.com/architecture/phantasma/664926/connections-displacements-and-overlays.
Claus, Sylvia, Dorothee Huber, and Beate Schnitter. Lux Guyer 1894-1955 Architektin. Zürich: Gta Verlag, 2009.
Fernández García, Ana María, Caterina Franchini, Emilia Garda, Helena Serazin, eds. MoMoWo : 100 Works in 100 Years European Women in Architecture and Design 1918-2018. ZRC SAZU, Založba ZRC, 2016. https://www.momowo.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/MoMoWo_Catalog_final.pdf.
Gadola, Reto. Architektur Der Sehnsucht : 20 Schweizer Ferienhäuser Aus Dem 20. Jahrhundert. Zürich: Gta Verlag, 2013.
Guyer, Lux. Lux Guyer – Obere Schiedhalde: die Wiederbelebung eines Wohnhauses von 1929. Zürich: Park Books, 2023.
Guyer, Lux, Daniel Bickel, and Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich. Institut für Geschichte und Theorie der Architektur. Die Architektin Lux Guyer, 1894–1955 : das Risiko, sich in der Mitte zu bewegen : Ausstellung ETH-Hönggerberg, Zürich, 25. Oktober-11. November 1983. Zürich: Institut für Geschichte und Theorie der Architektur, ETH Zürich, 1983.
Krasny, Elke, and Architektur Zentrum Wien. The Force Is in the Mind : The Making of Architecture. Basel: Birkhäuser, 2008.
“Lux Guyer.” Birkhäuser. Accessed August 7, 2024. https://bdt.degruyter.com/architect/lux-guyer/.
“Lux Guyer (1894–1955), Architektin.” Women Writing Architecture. Accessed August 7, 2024. https://womenwritingarchitecture.org/citation/lux-guyer-1894-1955-architektin/.
“Lux Guyer.” Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz Hls. Accessed May 7, 2025. https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/articles/009326/2006-03-10/.
“Lux Guyer House.” Christ & Gantenbein. Accessed August 7, 2024. https://www.christgantenbein.com/projects/lux-guyer-house.
“Lux Guyer.” Saffahaus. Accessed August 7, 2024. http://www.saffahaus.ch/luxguyer/index.html.
May, Olivier. La Suisse En 100 Personnalités. Paris: Auzou Suisse, 2022.
Schmidt, Philippa. Lux Guyer: Meisterin der Farben und Formen, 2012.
