Episode 55: Dorothy Hughes
Eugenie Dorothy Ullman (everyone called her Dorothy) was born on June 26th, 1910 in London, England. When Dorothy was 3, she and her family moved to the Rift Valley town of Eldoret in the Uasin Gishu County of Kenya. Fast forward, where Dorothy would attend AA (the Architectural Association School) in London to study Architecture. In 1931, Dorothy becomes an architect - she would spend a year or so working on a housing project in Westminster before returning to Kenya. So as she moves to Kenya this makes her the first woman architect in East Africa. Dorothy would start her own firm with partner Dick Polkinghorne in 1946. Together they would have offices in Nairobi, Mombasa, Uganda, and the Seychelles.Some of her projects would include the Golden Beach Hotel, the Murangi House, but her most notable works would be the National theater which would open in 1952 by famous actor of the time Ralph Richardson. It's interesting to note all of her work outside of architecture actually. She would become an elected member of the Nairobi City Council, she became a Kenyan Delegate to the Lancaster House Conference. Dorothy would be elevated to fellow by RIBA in 1960 . We have to talk about her philanthropic work too. She would be the founding chairman of the Society for Deaf Children, the Edelvale Trust for Girls in Need— just to name a few. All of this of course was recognized in 1984 by the National Council of Women of Kenya - they awarded Dorothy with their Certificate of Merit as quote’ vital pillar in the shaping of Kenya's social and economic development, guiding the youth, fostering the welfare of women and the needy, and educating leaders in many spheres.”Dorothy would pass away at the age 77 on August 16th, 1987 in London.
Caryatid: Emma Miloyo
Emma is an architect based out of Kenya, in 2017 she became the first WOMAN president of the Architectural Association of Kenya. With her husband, she co- found her corporate architecture firm Design Source that specializes in hospitality, commercial, and energy across East Africa.
References
“History World.” History World: History of Kenya, History World, www.historyworld.net. Accessed 9 Aug. 2022.
“Prabook.” Prabook: World Biographical Encyclopedia, Eugeny Dorothy Hughes, prabook.com/web/eugeny_dorothy.hughes/1288888. Accessed 16 July 2022.
Shariff, Yasmin. “The AA’s Unsung Women.” The Architects’ Journal, 11 June 2020, www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/the-aas-unsung-women.
“View Entry.” Europeans In East Africa, www.europeansineastafrica.co.uk/_site/custom/database/?a=viewIndividual&pid=2&person=1090. Accessed 9 July 2022.
