March 7, 2025
Hilary Romaniuk is an Intern Architect out of Architecture49’s Ottawa office. As a recent graduate diving into the industry, there is a wealth of new things to learn. There is also much to be gained as new voices such as hers join the charge in making inclusive design practices commonplace.
Hilary’s passion joins a collective of our designers across the country who continue to work towards Spatial Justice throughout each sector of the built environment. Projects such as the Winnipeg Women’s Hospital, Ontario Native Women’s Association Healing Centre and A49’s library of modern educational buildings push this concept to the forefront.
As she points out, “The topic of feminism in architecture and design, is inseparable from conversations about accessibility, race, neurodivergence, Indigenous relations, and queer inclusivity. This subject is more broadly referred to as Spatial Justice, as we practice social justice through the design and critique of spaces.”
Women and minorities live with risk daily. As an individual, this changes the relationship that one has with the built environment. As a designer, this leads to conversations that inspire hope for change and spaces that are inclusive, safe, and accessible for all users, regardless of gender.
For Hilary, the concept of true equality for women has been an interest since childhood. The opportunity to then incorporate her passion for architecture with that of feminism goes beyond personal interest and highlights a necessary choice for modern day design practices. Frustrated with the inequity that exists to this day, Hilary’s career choice has allowed her to focus on the way women commonly experience unsafe situations in public spaces and be part of the solution.
PUTTING THE CONCEPT INTO PRACTICE
Two heads are better than one and discussing new perspectives as a design team is the root of achieving inclusive design. For Hilary, she recalls the way her ideas were welcomed within her first month of working at A49. Through casual discussions during site visits and lunchroom chatter, the shape of design on projects was impacted. As an example, one project required four small meeting rooms big enough for two people each. Originally, the rooms were isolated down a hallway with limited visibility. Through discussions around safety, a solution was easy, and the design was augmented. “We decided to provide more visibility into the small rooms and ensure circulation provided two paths of travel so no one could ever feel cornered,” Hilary said.
On another project, the team was tasked with redesigning accessible washrooms and adding additional washrooms. Hilary explained, “Instead of adding a women’s washroom with “standard” stalls, we advocated for gender-neutral washrooms with circular paths of travel. Having gender-neutral washrooms allows for greater inclusivity of transgender, two spirit and gender non-conforming individuals, and the circular path of travel ensures that no person feels cornered and therefore in danger.”
This advocacy from our teams is just one way that A49 leads on the road to Spatial Justice.
IMPACTING DESIGN WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE
For someone with the privilege to feel safe regardless of the built environment, the idea of actively considering safety is unlikely to register. For someone without this privilege, safety is always top of mind when in public spaces. When working on her thesis, Hilary hosted a community workshop where the women were tasked with completing a body mapping exercise. The intent being to point out where on one’s body they experience typical reactions to existing in a public space. As a woman in a public space, Hilary pointed out that, “it completely dictates where I walk during the day versus at night, when I get my groceries, how I commute, how I dress, what I carry in my hand.”
Common experiences from the women participating indicated how they will keep one hand free to ensure they have a “fighting hand”, or they may refuse to where headphones to maintain their awareness of surroundings or memorize their route beforehand to avoid projecting any kind of vulnerability. What a workshop such as this one points out, is how normalized it is for women to take actions to physically protect themselves while existing in public spaces. “When I held the workshop, it just reinforced [the idea that all women have similar experiences], and it showed how people who do not experience it do not realise how common it is. The feeling of being unsafe totally changes how you interact with the city.”
As designers, we have the ability to design spaces that transcend one experience. While it may start with ideas such as safety and security, it can grow too so much more. For instance, trauma informed design that gives autonomy to the user. Residential design that promotes gender equity in the home. Additionally, democratic work environments that reduce hierarchical segregation and promote collaboration between all levels of the workforce.
Already designers, Architecture49’s included, are pushing these concepts, and encouraging progressiveness in their ability to think beyond their own lived experiences. The idea percolates further as we listen to passionate people like Hilary and encourage others to speak up.
THE ROAD TO PROGRESS IS BUILT ON OUR DIVERSITY
Much like we consider accessibility codes and requirements through a design process, the same can be applied to the idea of Spatial Justice. “When designing throughout the project, I am checking in with myself and thinking, okay, how would other people experience space and what are their primary concerns? What are these negative things that they experience and how can we as designers aim to limit unsafe or uncomfortable circumstances and help. It also really helps when you have people in your life who have these experiences to listen and learn from,” Hilary said.
Having diverse voice is one of A49’s great strengths. Our national team has a palate of lived experiences to enrich the creative process and lead to more thoughtful, inclusive, and effective environments. By drawing on diverse perspectives, we as designers can create spaces that better meet the needs of all users, promote safety and well-being, and foster innovation and creativity. This approach ultimately contributes to the creation of more resilient, adaptable, and inclusive communities.
Particularly on a day such as International Women’s Day, we can celebrate the privilege of being the designers of change and of progress. And true to this year’s theme of Accelerated Action, the more we push the boundaries of our own experiences and work together as a diverse and inclusive team of people, the more we help achieve a global actionable goal to address systemic barriers.
