This is the story of Lilly Reich, co-designer of the Barcelona Pavilion, a modernist masterpiece credited almost exclusively to Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. We all know Mies, his work, and his words—“Less is more”—but how many know of Reich’s hand in
shaping one of the most iconic buildings of the 20th century? Despite her pivotal role, she remained largely invisible in architectural history, like many other women whose contributions were fundamental yet forgotten.
Project Name: Coming Out Of The Shadows
Studio Name: HAA&D
HAA&D took this untold narrative and transformed it into an award winning intervention: SHED LIGHT. Inspired by the Barcelona Pavilion’s story, SHED LIGHT is an architectural marker—a subtle yet striking design that reveals names otherwise lost to history. Constructed from steel letters mounted perpendicularly to a surface, the intervention seems almost invisible—until light interacts with it. As the sun shifts, shadows emerge, projecting the hidden name onto the facade, making the invisible visible. It is a poetic yet potent act of recognition, allowing women architects to take their rightful place in the architectural pantheon.
The project emerged from an internal debate at HAA&D. Should women in architecture embrace initiatives that highlight them separately, or does this unintentionally mark them as outsiders rather than equals? Hagar Abiri, founder of HAA&D, initially
hesitated. She, like many, prefers to blend in—to be seen as an architect first, not as a ‘woman architect.’ Yet history matters. The absence of recognition for women in architecture is not an accident; it is a consequence of past omissions. Hagar believes in correcting history, just as men have done for each other for centuries. The SHED LIGHT intervention does not separate—it restores. It does not demand—it reveals.
For Abiri, this project also connects to her personal journey. Throughout her career, she never considered herself through the lens of gender—she simply focused on doing the work she loves. Yet, she has faced moments where she had to meet different standards than her male colleagues. As both a woman and an immigrant, she has often chosen to overlook prejudices and focus on what truly matters—the work. She does not seek credit, only the
opportunity to design and create. However, she has come to recognize that visibility is essential—not for personal gain, but to ensure that more women enter and thrive in this field. Today, she understands the power of representation and hopes her work will
inspire her daughter and the next generation of architects.
At HAA&D, architecture is not just about form—it is about impact. Every project carries a social responsibility, whether through material choices, sustainable practices, or research-driven interventions. Abiri’s studio engages in ongoing research, publishing thoughts and ideas through articles and her podcast, And The City Project. The firm’s approach to design is simple yet profound: say more with less. Highlight what is important with minimal means. SHED LIGHT embodies this ethos, using a single element—light— to rewrite architectural history.
The jury of The Marker Design Challenge by Builder & The Association for Women in Architecture + Design saw its universal potential. They praised its elegance, adaptability, and powerful storytelling. “Both sacrilegious and a clever wordplay,” they noted, celebrating its ability to rewrite history—one shadow at a time. The Barcelona Pavilion, though originally a temporary structure, was reconstructed decades later because its influence was undeniable. Perhaps SHED LIGHT is a similar act of reconstruction —not of a building, but of history itself.
