María Luisa Dehesa Gómez Farías
María Luisa Dehesa Gómez Farías (30 June 1912 – 11 March 2009) was a Mexican architect who worked for close to 50 years in the Federal District of Mexico City, primarily designing single-family homes and apartment buildings.[1] She was the first Mexican woman to graduate with a degree in architecture.
María Luisa Dehesa Gómez Farías | |
---|---|
Born | 30 June 1912 |
Died | 11 March 2009 96) Mexico City, Mexico | (aged
Nationality | Mexican |
Other names | María Luisa Dehesa de Millán |
Occupation | Architect |
Years active | 1939–1989 |
Spouse | Manuel Millán |
Biography
María Luisa Dehesa Gómez Farías was born on 30 June 1912[2] in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico to Ramón Dehesa[3] and María Luisa Gómez Farías y Canedo, daughter of the Mexican Minister in London, Benito Gómez Farías. She was the granddaughter of Teodoro A. Dehesa Méndez on her paternal side and great-granddaughter of Valentín Gómez Farías on her maternal side.[2]
In 1933 she enrolled at the Academia de San Carlos (the National School of Architecture) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico.[3] In her class of 113 students, only five were women[1] and they were required to study in a separate workshop from the men.[3] She graduated in 1937, the first Mexican woman to graduate with a degree in architecture. Her thesis, which won honorable mention from the jurors,[3] was entitled Artillery Barracks Type. It was accepted in 1939 and she attained her professional designation.[4]
After she finished school, Dehesa married Manuel Millán and they subsequently had four children.[2] She joined the Public Works Department in Mexico City and served for nearly 50 years in various divisions,[1] primarily designing single-family homes and apartment buildings.[2] In 1974, she was announced as a joint winner of the Ruth Rivera Prize, together with the first Mexican female civil engineer, Concepción Mendizábal Mendoza.[5] In 2006, the College of Architects of Mexico City, honored her for her contributions.[3]
Notimex published Dehesa's memoirs, entitled Los Años Valientes, with illustrations by her daughter Elizabeth Millán de Guerra, a graphic designer.[2] Dehesa died in Mexico City in 2009.[6]
References
- Prieto Soldevilla, Alain (8 March 2013). "Las arquitectas mexicanas que vencieron la contracorriente" (in Spanish). Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico: Obrasweb. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- Pallais, María Lourdes (11 November 2006). "Cumple María Luisa Dehesa más de medio siglo como arquitecta" (in Spanish). Mexico: MLP's Grand Central. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- Mendoza, Ángel (1 March 2007). "María Luisa Dehesa" (in Spanish). Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico: Obrasweb. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- "Maria Luisa Dehesa, Primera Mujer Arquitecta en Mexico" (in Spanish). No. 2398. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico: Gaceta. 20 July 1989. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- "Dos Universitarias Recibieron el Premio "Ruth Rivera" 1974" (in Spanish). No. 8. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico: Gaceta. 2 December 1974. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
- María Luisa Dehesa Architectuul profile