It was more than a panel discussion – it was a plea for the collective. Tatiana Bilbao, Anna Heringer, Anupama Kundoo, Marina Tabassum, and surprise guest Frida Escobedo, five of the most influential contemporary female architects, met at the University of Liechtenstein. Their message: architecture should heal, serve, and put the ego in the background.

"We ordered four chairs and got five female architects," joked Prof. Daniel Stockhammer during his welcome in the fully occupied architecture studio. Alongside the announced guests – Tatiana Bilbao (Mexico City), Anna Heringer (Laufen), Anupama Kundoo (Berlin/Pune), and Marina Tabassum (Dhaka) – the Mexican architect Frida Escobedo spontaneously joined them.

Moderated by Verena Jakoubek-Konrad, a conversation developed on February 13, 2026, that set aside technical details and illuminated the ethical core of architecture.

Architecture as a Political Act 

A central theme of the evening was the political dimension of building. Tatiana Bilbao described architecture not as an object, but as a "primary form of care". For her, architecture is always political because it decides "who, how, when, and where can inhabit this planet". Marina Tabassum, who often works with the consequences of the climate crisis and displacement in Bangladesh, highlighted the importance of the "wisdom of the land". She spoke about a co-design process in a refugee camp where women desired one thing above all: a garden, in order to maintain dignity amidst the temporary accommodations.

Time as a Resource 

Anupama Kundoo questioned the conventional concept of resources. For her, it is not about the lack of finite materials, but about promoting "infinite human resources" like imagination and craftsmanship. "Time is a resource," she emphasized, and called for a revival of "thinking craftsmanship".

Collective Instead of Ego

The strongest message of the evening was the rejection of the image of the solitary, genius architect. "It's about reducing the ego," said Anna Heringer. She finds her greatest happiness not on a podium, but with her hands in the earth on a construction site. Frida Escobedo added how liberating it is to meet women who share the same values: "We are not alone."

The evening ended with standing ovations – and a wink. When asked about joint future plans, the five hinted at wanting to form a "band" – perhaps the "Spice Girls" of architecture.