Francine Houben
Francine Houben is the founding partner and creative director of Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo.
Houben has worked on numerous international projects including Europe's largest public library, the Longgang Cultural Centre in China and a sculptural aluminium crown topping New York's Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library dubbed the "wizard hat".
The former Delft University of Technology professor has also taught at educational institutions including Harvard, Yale, and Mendrisio. She holds honorary fellowships from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC).
The Dutch architect was granted lifelong membership to the Akademie der Künste and received the International Honorary Fellow Award from the Architecture Institute of Taiwan.
Other accolades include Woman Architect of the Year in 2014 and the BNA Kubus Award in 2018. Houben was also awarded the International Prize, European Prize for Architecture in 2021, Prix des Femmes Architectes in 2019 and the TU Delft Alumnus of the Year in 2020.
