Nazira al-Faruqi

A Jordanian architect who designed iconic public buildings and broke gender barriers in the Middle East’s construction industry.

Nazira al-Faruqi (1910–1968) was a trailblazer in Jordan’s architectural scene, designing over 50 public buildings while challenging gender stereotypes in the 1940s–60s. After studying engineering in Paris (1930–35), she returned to Amman to establish al-Faruqi & Partners, one of the first firms led by a woman in the Middle East. Her signature project, the Jordan National Library (1952), became a symbol of post-independence modernity with its blend of Islamic geometric patterns and Brutalist concrete.

Al-Faruqi’s advocacy for women’s roles in urban planning led to Jordan’s 1956 decree requiring female-friendly spaces in public buildings. She also pioneered low-cost housing designs for refugee camps during the 1948 Palestinian exodus. Her memoir Building Bridges (1965) details her struggles in a male-dominated field. Though overshadowed by contemporary male architects like Le Corbusier, her work influenced later generations of Arab female engineers. The Nazira al-Faruqi Award for Sustainable Architecture, established in 2000, honors her legacy.