Dora Riedel Seinecke (1906-1982) was a Chilean architect who, in 1930, became the first woman to receive an architectural degree in Chile.

Early life and education

Dora Riedel was born on 11 March 1906 in

Valdivia, Chile Valdivia (; Mapuche language, Mapuche: Ainil) is a List of cities in Chile, city and Communes of Chile, commune in Southern Chile, southern Chile, administered by the Municipality of Valdivia. The city is named after its Organizational founder, ...

to German parents Carlos Riedel and Herminia Seinecke Deppe. She had a sister Alice and a brother Carlos. She began her education at the German School in Valdivia. After the end of the First World War, it is believed that the Riedel Seinecke family returned to Germany in 1918, living in Berlin and then returning to Chile in 1920. She moved with her family to the port city of

Valparaíso Valparaíso () is a major city, Communes of Chile, commune, Port, seaport, and naval base facility in the Valparaíso Region of Chile. Valparaíso was originally named after Valparaíso de Arriba, in Castilla–La Mancha, Castile-La Mancha, Spain ...

, where she took lessons in oil painting and completed her secondary education. This interest in art inspired her to take up architecture rather than pursue a career in mathematics. Her father was supportive and approached the director of the School of Architecture at the University of Chile to ask if they accepted women. When asked, the director confirmed that the school did accept woman and that Frida Ganther was already studying there. (Ganther completed the course of studies but died before she could be awarded a degree.) In 1925, Riedel matriculated at the

University of Chile The University of Chile () is a public university, public research university in Santiago, Chile. It was founded on November 19, 1842, and inaugurated on September 17, 1843.

. She met her good friend Frances Barber whilst studying there. On 9 December 1930 Dora Riedel became the first woman to receive a degree in architecture in the country.

Career

Following her graduation, Riedel spent a year working at the Chilean Ministry of Public Works. In 1931, Riedel travelled to Germany, at first to Berlin then in 1933 where she continued her education at the Faculty of Architecture at the

University of Stuttgart The University of Stuttgart () is a research university located in Stuttgart, Germany. It was founded in 1829 and is organized into 10 faculties. It is one of the oldest technical universities in Germany with programs in civil, mechanical, ind ...

, studying with

Paul Bonatz Paul Bonatz (6 December 1877 – 20 December 1956) was a German architect, member of the Stuttgart School and professor at the technical university in that city during part of World War II, and from 1954 until his death. He worked in many styl ...

, Paul Schmitthenner and Heinz Wetzel completing her doctorate in Interior Architecture.

Personal life

In Germany, she met architect Anton Hammerle, who she married on 18 November 1934. Over the following decade they had five children: Anton, Christina, Heinrich, Elisabeth and Herbert. The family lived in Munich until 1938, but then moved to Hammerle's native

Tyrol Tyrol ( ; historically the Tyrole; ; ) is a historical region in the Alps of Northern Italy and western Austria. The area was historically the core of the County of Tyrol, part of the Holy Roman Empire, Austrian Empire and Austria-Hungary, f ...

, where he worked as a municipal architect and Director of Architecture and Urban Planning in Innsbruck. Riedel designed the family home in

Innsbruck Innsbruck (; ) is the capital of Tyrol (federal state), Tyrol and the List of cities and towns in Austria, fifth-largest city in Austria. On the Inn (river), River Inn, at its junction with the Wipptal, Wipp Valley, which provides access to the ...

, which was completed in 1947. She also designed the interior. This was to remain the only house that Riedel planned and completed. Dora Riedel Seinecke died in 21 June 1982 in Innsbruck.

Commemoration

In 2017, the Colegio de Arquitectos de Chile introduced the Dora Riedel Prize in honor of Riedel. In August 2018, the prize was presented for the first time to architect Paulina Villalobos; the award ceremony was also attended by Veronika Pavlu Hammerle, a granddaughter of Dora Riedel, who travelled specially from Austria.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Riedel, Dora 1906 births 1982 deaths Chilean women architects 20th-century Chilean architects Chilean people of German descent University of Chile alumni University of Stuttgart alumni People from Valdivia Chilean architects