In the Lyon and Alps region, three women have created an exclusively female network of business leaders or professionals with a high level of responsibility, in the construction, real estate, architecture and landscaping sectors. , town planning and development. Named the Circle of Zaha, in homage to the renowned architect Zaha Hadid, the first woman to win the Pritzker Prize for architecture in 2004, the association was created by Séverine de Fontgalland, Nora Tellis and Florence Rivaud-Moulin. These bring together 140 members within their network which offers women a sharing space to work better together. “Our DNA is kindness and solidarity“, assures Batiactu Séverine de Fontgalland, co-founder and manager of Matière 2 Com. “During an evening organized by a design office, Florence, Nora and I noted that women were still a minority in our sectors.“It was from this evening that the idea of setting up a women’s network was born.”We wanted to bring them together around emblematic and innovative projects, and put meaning into these meetings, by creating a friendly and sharing circle.“
Position yourself as a leader
Since 2013, this association has sought to promote the talent of women in their sector, to trigger reflection on gender in architecture and planning projects, and to promote gender equality in professional practices. Each year, four visits to major construction sites are presented to members by architects, project owners, builders and design offices. City discovery days are also organized, such as Marseille and Clermont-Ferrand, through three or four flagship projects. The network also offers mini training courses led by specialists, particularly on new labels and regulations, on communication, on management and social networks. “We also support women to take the lead, to be confident, to assert themselves and to know how to lead meetings“, adds Séverine de Fontgalland. In addition, a sub-committee of eight members intervenes in schools in the sectors concerned to promote the construction, architecture and landscaping professions.
The last Tuesday of each month is “Red Tent” subcommittee day. Members come together to discuss, in private, a professional problem. “Members help those who encounter difficulties to find solutions. This could, for example, be a woman who returns from maternity leave and cannot find her place within her company. It is a moment of support and the meeting remains confidential. Even the presidents of the association are not aware of what is being said“, explains Séverine de Fontgalland.
An architectural competition questioning the place of gender
The Zaha Circle is also at the origin of the international architectural ideas competition “The city together, everyone”. The latter invites students and young graduates from around the world to integrate the subject of gender into the design of a public space. “By researching diagnoses carried out by geographers, sociologists and political scientists, we realized that gender equality in the city is still at the study stage.“, relates Florence Rivaud-Moulin, co-founder and president of Urban Flow, strategy and business development consultancy. “It is proven that men live in a place, and women pass through it. They don’t move in the same way, they don’t use the same places. During adolescence, many girls abandon their sporting and artistic activities because their parents are not reassured that they can walk alone in the city.”
Thus, “The city together” aims to promote other designs and constructions of public spaces. The use of public space often echoes gender norms for centuries. A concept that the competition encourages us to overcome. “Through the geographers’ diagnoses and our experiences, it seemed obvious to us to encourage young people to think about equality in public spaces, through lighting, street furniture and even public toilets.“For the second edition of the competition, held in 2022, around a hundred teams, from France, Quebec and Ivory Coast, applied.”No one points out to students that only 6% of streets are named after women“, exclaims the co-founder, who regrets that the prism of gender is not taught in landscaping, architecture and town planning schools.
Still a long way to go
The creation of the Circle of Zaha triggered some taunts, even sexist comments. Some professionals have nicknamed them “Zara’s Circle“, like the Spanish clothing brand, or even “the Circle of Zahia“, in reference to the ex escort girl Zahia Dehar, who offered her services to footballers. “It’s serious, it shows that the battle for equality has not been won“, annoys Florence Rivaud-Moulin. Séverine de Fontgalland wants to be more positive, affirming that the situation has evolved. “For four years, we have received a lot of encouragement following the development of the association. Even men say that what we do is great for our professions.”
The co-founder is delighted to see more and more women entering these sectors over the last ten years. “In our circle, we welcome women of all ages. Some were employees and dared to set up their company because they felt it was possible“, she testifies. The Zaha Circle allows members to share their skills and build a network in professions that were originally male-oriented. However, some women continue to hinder their own success. “They are humble, stay in the background and fail to appreciate the fact that they have the skills. Our training supports them so that they feel legitimate and that they dare, for example, to apply for positions that suit them.”
The co-founders refuse to describe their network as “feminist“.”We are not here to make demands in the street but to offer tools, training and facilitate relationships, which will ultimately create a network of trust in projects.“, argues Séverine de Fontgalland. “We are not against men, we want parity.“According to her, he is”too late” to change the mentality of some. She prefers to turn to young people to promote gender equality. Same story for Florence Rivaud-Moulin. She considers that society will gain in equality if the younger generations integrate this notion. “Women and men must rethink the city, it is a way to gain respect and feel safer. The idea is therefore not to be in opposition to men but to include them in a reflection on the new codes to be put in place.”
Today, the network is expanding to conquer new horizons, with the plan to found new circles in Paca, Auvergne and Burgundy. “We also want to expand the network in the Alps, in Chambéry, Grenoble and Annecy, so that a plurality of professions are represented.“, continues Séverine de Fontgalland. In the longer term, the Cercle de Zaha is considering setting up in Paris, Marseille and Bordeaux.