Four Women

For International Women’s Day, we wondered how we could mark this in a way that links what we

do and our ethos behind supporting and celebrating women in the wider industry. In the process of

our research, we were pretty disappointed to find out that little documentation of the work of some

of the first female architects exists.

So, we decided to celebrate inspiring female architects who were never widely publicly commended

for their work. Talented women who were overlooked because of their gender and never received

the recognition they deserved.

In the early 20th century, it was considered a noble hobby for middle-class women to sketch and

design buildings and structures, but it wasn’t seen as an opportunity for a career. However, there

were a few women who slowly helped to change that and paved the way for future generations.

Ethel Charles

She was the first woman to become a professional architect in the UK, admittedto The Royal

Institute of British Architects (RIBA), with some controversy in 1898. Throughout her career, Ethel

worked mainly for female clients designing family homes. She received little recognition and sadly

almost nothing is known of her style and influences.

Kathleen Veitch

Born in Dollar in 1907, Kathleen was well educated was inspired by a female teacher to consider a

career in architecture, when the Glasgow School of Art began to admit women in 1904. Kathleen

graduated, worked in London, won accolades for her exhibitions and travelled to Spain for research.

On her return she worked with the Duke of Roxburgh on improvements to his estate and settled in

the Borders with her sister. She designed a home for them in the arts and crafts style, now the C-

Listed Little Salt Hall, near Melrose. Kathleen died tragically in 1968 - believed murdered - in a case that was never solved.

Edith Hughes

Considered to be Britain’s first practising female architect after establishing her firm in 1920. Edith

was the daughter of an Edinburgh lawmaker. Following her father’s death in 1901 Edith was raised

by her uncle, the Glasgow architect John James Burnet who inspired in her a love of architecture and

she graduated from Gray’s School of Art in 1914. Few examples of her work remain, partly because

like so many of her female contemporaries, she wasn’t named on plans and designs. Indeed, she was

once refused a job on the basis that the company had no female lavatory. However, she does have

one design attributed to her, a classical colonnaded style war memorial in Coatbridge.

Isobel Hogg Kerr Beattie

Isobel Hogg Kerr Beattie studied at the Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) and gained her diploma in

1926. She was admitted to RIBA in 1931 after being put forward by male contemporaries who

admired her work. Records are limited, but show that she was employed on many projects on the

Buccleuch Estate and lived in a house she designed for herself close by.

LBA Women

We’d like to celebrate our own Four Women too. Members of our team who embody female

strength and determination who for us, represent the best of our industry and who perform key

roles that help LBA succeed and prosper.

 

Joanne Potter

Joanne is a Project Architect at LBA who is working currently working on a range of new

developments in the Lothians and the Scottish Borders. Her favourite recent project is a residential

refurbishment in South Queensferry which has recently receiving planning permission and includes

works to an existing listed hotel right in the seawall overlooking the Firth of Forth. Although the

views will be enviable the proposals required some pretty intelligent design to get right on the tricky

site. She has unexpectedly found that she enjoys some of the more challenging aspects of the job

like the nitty gritty of construction details and resolving issues on site. Recently Joanne achieved a

new qualification as a BREEAM Accredited Professional and is championing sustainability across all

our projects, including the development of LBA’s own Toolkit – more information coming soon!

 

Joanne’s says her drive comes from her passion for good design, which is often difficult to pinpoint.

“As architects and designers, we get to make our mark on the world but as important as it is to

create beautiful spaces, I think the marker of a successful project is that it delivers functional and

adaptable spaces to the people that use them.”

 

Rachel Mackay

Rachel has been here since the beginning, joining Lynsay as employee number one. She looks after

the day to day running of the business, much of the finance and keeps everyone doing what they

need to do, when they need to do it. With a background in practice management and banking and

with a flair for organisation that is unrivalled, without her in the role of Studio Manager, LBA simply

would not function!

 

Samantha Murchie

Sami is a Project Architect and passed her chartership exam in 2019. Rather than waiting the

traditional year or two after university to build up placement hours, she went straight into her Part 3

studies after passing her Master’s degree with distinction. She built up her experience by working in

practice over summers during university to build up her placement hours, showing her drive and

determination! She’s currently working on a number of residential developments around Edinburgh

and north of the bridge. She really enjoys the process of working closely with a client and building a

trusting relationship to achieve a successful project. Her organisation and project management skills

are a valuable asset to any project, and this is reflected in the positive feedback she receives.

 

She’s a very enthusiastic and energetic member of the team, always motivating and encouraging

others. We’re continually impressed by her drive and ambition, which she brings to everything she

does at LBA.

 

Lynsay Bell Manson

Team and family are at the heart of everything that LBA do and that comes down to leadership. As

an understanding, effective and inspiring leader, Lynsay inspires all of us to do better and achieve

 

more.  As Managing Director, Lynsay oversees all aspects of the practice, from project running to

business development. She has a particular focus on wellbeing and personal development, which

brings clarity and a sense of purpose to the whole team. The trust that this approach brings, filters

down into how we interact with clients and is why we have such strong relationships. Lynsay is LBA.

This International Women’s Day we’d encourage you to celebrate the women in your industry, who

paved with way for future generations of girls to aim for goals once denied them. And those who

continue to so to ensure that women and girls continue to be valued in the workplace