Buone Nuove/Good News – Women In Architecture – from MAXXI to MET

Toronto Metropolitan University is thrilled to host the internationally acclaimed architecture exhibition "Buone Nuove: Good News from Italy (external link) ," which first opened at the MAXXI museum in Rome in 2022. After traveling to Stockholm, Doha, New Delhi and Berlin, Buone Nuove/Good News opens at TMU’s Paul H. Cocker Gallery in the Department of Architectural Science for its inaugural North American showing on September 5, 2024.

Curated by Pippo Ciorra, Elena Motisi and Elena Tinacci, this traveling exhibition features works and words of dozens of Italian and global women architects who have changed the field of architecture and are empowering a new generation of inclusive city-builders. The exhibition offers a new and more comprehensive perspective of architecture by showing how women and women-led collectives have elevated the quality of modern and contemporary design.

The exhibition is presented in images, artifacts and videos via four curatorial lens: 

Stories. Featuring achievements of 21 notable Italian women architects, from the first lady architecture graduate in 1925, to internationally accomplished designers of the post-war period and present day, to emerging practitioners and provocateurs.

Practices. Showcasing significant built works of six internationally acclaimed women architects who are impacting Italian design culture in collaboration with Italian professionals.

Narrations. Including 12 video interviews with women transforming architecture through practices of activism, scholarship, writing, curation, academic leadership, and philanthropy.

Visions. Presenting five experimental videos exploring relationships between gender and space, created as part of the 2021 MAXXI Architecture Film Summer School.

From MAXXI to MET

This traveling MAXXI exhibition is complemented by three additional displays focused on women architects working in the Toronto region and at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Empowering Practices. Highlighting prominent women architects in and around Toronto who are positively impacting communities and the architecture of the city through built works, practice innovation, leadership, mentorship, and advocacy.

Postcards to Progress. Sharing a wide variety of initiatives, projects, manifestos and messages by individuals and groups supporting women and diversity in architecture. A selection celebrates work by the women architect-educators and student leaders of TMU’s Department of Architectural Science. View the Postcards to Progress  (PDF file) here.

Good News Café. Facilitating open dialogue and ‘a place at the table’ for anyone working toward equity in architecture. A trio of cafe tables will host conversations on current issues and be activated with micro events during the five-week show.

Beyond Gender. Sharing Voices of Black Women in Architecture + Design - part of an ongoing research project by Jennifer Esposito and Saskia Scarce called “Taking Stock: Voices of Women in Architecture in Canada,” engaging storytelling to amplify the voices of the next generation of designers.

Timeline. Plotting milestones and accomplishments of over 100 years of remarkable Toronto area women in architecture in their local and global socio-political contexts. Where and how did we start, how and why did we get here, and where are we heading next?

Want to be part of this exhibition?

Submit a postcard! Open to students, interns, professionals, educators, researchers, artists, writers, makers, thinkers, and anyone supporting women in architecture who has a project, manifesto or message to share. Multiple submissions are welcome! Details  (google form) here (external link) .

Visit the show! Open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm from September 5th to October 10th, 2024. The Paul H. Cooper Gallery is on the main floor (200 level) of TMU’s Architecture Building located at 325 Church St., just south of Gerrard Street East, Toronto. Accessible entrance at the east entrance. If you require accessibility assistance, please let us know by contacting arch.office@torontomu.ca. 

See images of the opening reception (external link) !

Download a  (PDF file) gallery guide.

Grazie mille / Thank you!

Buone Nuove/Good News from MAXXI TO MET, is generously supported by the Fondazione MAXXI, the Consulate General of Italy (Toronto), the Istituto Italiano di cultura (Toronto), Diamond Schmitt Architects, Toronto Metropolitan University Office of the Provost, and TMU’s Department of Architectural Science.

The TMU organizing team includes DAS professors Lisa Landrum (Chair), Carlo Parente (Gallery Director), Cheryl Atkinson and Jennifer Esposito; student assistants Mei Li, Sabeeh Mobashar and Saskia Scarce; and gallery coordinator Alex Berceanu. 

Special thanks to Martin Davidson at Diamond Schmitt whose initiative and contributions brought this exhibition to TMU, and to TMU Provost Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano for support.

The Paul H. Cooper Gallery is on the main floor (200 level) of TMU’s Architecture Building located at 325 Church St., just south of Gerrard Street East, Toronto. Accessible entrance at the east entrance. If you require accessibility assistance, please let us know by contacting arch.office@torontomu.ca.