Martha Schwarz

Founding Partner, Martha Schwartz Partners
Professor in Practice, Harvard Graduate School of Design

Martha Schwartz is a landscape architect, urbanist, and climate activist.  Her work and teaching focuses on the urban public realm landscape and its importance in making cities “climate ready”.  For more than 40 years, she and the firm have completed projects around the globe, from site-specific art installations to public spaces, parks, and presently, projects that focus on working with cities and larger-scale landscapes at strategic planning levels.

Ms. Schwartz is a tenured Professor in Practice of Landscape Architecture at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design, a founding member of the Working Group of Sustainable Cities at the Harvard University Center for the Environment, and currently teaches a seminar on Climate Engineering called, “A Geoengineering Toolkit for Designers”.

She has recently founded MAYDAY. Earth, a non-profit organization focused on educating non-scientists and generalists about climate change and geoengineering solutions, and the need for research on the science and governance of Stratospheric Aerosol Injection, a solution that can cool down the Earth in order to avert climate catastrophe and enable us to transition to renewable energy.

Ms. Schwartz was awarded the 2020 ASLA Design Medal, is a member of the Landscape Architecture Foundation Working Group on Climate Change, recipient of numerous international recognitions, including the Honorary Royal Designer for Industry Award from the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce for her outstanding contribution to UK design; the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award; the Women in Design Award for Excellence from the Boston Society of Architects; an Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Ulster in Belfast, Ireland; a fellowship from the Urban Design Institute; visiting residencies at Radcliffe College and the American Academy in Rome; an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Institute of British Architects; the Council of Fellows Award by the American Society of Landscape Architects and most recently a Doctor Honoris Causa from the Boston Architectural College.”

Why women? Why climate change? Why Now?

* A “Treatment for a Neflix Series: ‘The Feminine Touch’

We have solutions to climate change. We know what we need to do. But it depends on our societies’ leadership to make decisions to act. But power, greed, and dominance, as displayed by almost all leadership in most countries (who are male), drives our societies’ ability to make the changes that are imperative to exercise NOW. Along with a big dose of aggression, it is highly unlikely that we will avoid global catastrophe.

BUT, what if women were able to take in the mission of SAVING THE EARTH? I fully believe that under female control and guidance, we would be able to change the world in ways that would not only save ourselves but craft a more peaceful, healthy and just world. 

Our reality is than until women obtain ‘power’ within politics, military, science, and economy, we will remain in the same genetic disposition of helper and enabler to our male counterparts.  The male/binary is genetically baked into our species (as in all animals) which determines much of the physical and psycho/emotional differences between males and females. While our DNA has not changed substantially, most of human societies have been able to devise rules that help to create stability and our ability to thrive.  But the millions-year-old job description for women still thrives, making it difficult for all women around the world, who still struggle to care for children and bring home the bacon, to even think about juggling a 3rd job. The inequality between men and women remains firmly embedded in all, but a few, human societies. 

OUR WORD HAS BEEN DESIGNED BY MEN. However, technological societies are going in this direction, where ‘power’ is becoming less dependent on physical power. Women can now sit down in front of a computer and deploy whatever is needed to address an issue – from the deployment of an army of robots to plant rice to a nuclear missile. The replacement of physical power creates equity for women. When we (finally) achieve parity within technologically advanced societies, the way the world will change, and for the better. Our female abilities to ‘multi-task’ (our brains are connected at the frontal cortex vs men’s brain construction), nurture, work collaboratively will underpin the policies, actions and societal change (women are more apt to support change) that are needed now. We are motivated by differently. Men are, by nature, by power, money, and dominance, while women we are more compassionate, and aware of ‘others’. Family is still a priority for most women.  We are able to converse more fluently, happy to work collaboratively, and think more holistically. We are, fundamentally, nurturers and more connected to our own bodily cycles and therefore have a strong connection to nature. These feminine qualities (much generalized), are what is needed (whether male, female, LGBQ, at this crucial time in humanity, to bringing humankind back from the ledge, as climate crisis is upon us, and without much hope of avoiding the IPCC 2018 “Tipping Points”. 

NOW We must hold hands, together, to create a giant tidal-wave of female-power, clean up the mess we’ve made of the Earth, nurture it back to health, and then take care of it.  This is the job nature has assigned us!

What is the biggest challenge facing women leaders in male dominated field and how to overcome them?

Men  

Organize female based activism (of course add men who are supportive!)

What are the pressing issues you are contributing as a landscape architect for tackle climate change?

Pressing Issue: 

1. 1500GT of CO2 in the atmosphere we need to drawdown

2. Spiraling Global Warming

3. Release of Methane and its feedback loops

Contributions:

Teaching and advocating Nature Based & global scale solutions to climate change problems such as Chemical and Natural Carbon Dioxide Removal, and the support of researchSolar Geoengineering. 

Climate Advocacy: Launching MAYDAY.Earth, a non-profit 

VISION - Climate Security for Future Generation
MISSION - Global access to education on Climate Change and Geoengineering Responses 

To educate educators, students of all ages, and civil society, through a variety of communication platforms, about climate change and the Climate Interventions needed in order to preserve our future.

How you approach your business/ your research as a woman who lead?

1. Having a purpose/ Speak my mind

2. Just moving ahead step by step

3. Take risks

What is the most frustrating moment/comment you’ve heard as a woman who leads in the profession?

Upon winning 2 important, international competitions

1. We can’t give this to you because Jean Nouvel will not work for a woman

2. We can’t give this to you because you are a landscape architect,  not an architect

What’s the most important risk you took and why?

1. Start my own company

2. I wanted freedom to use landscapes as an art-form

3. I did not wish to waste my energy proving myself to a highly male-dominated landscape architecture firm (at that time (1980s)

They say “Gender Equality Means Business” -- what do you think about that?

I think this is true. I know I would have been more financially successful if I were a man.

How your work contributes to other women?

Just getting work built, being controversial, and being a successful woman

What advice would you give to the next generation of female design leaders?

I automatically go to practicality. I have 3 kids. I was lucky enough to be able to work and live in my ‘house’(usually redone industrial lofts). Make sure your male counterparts are 50/50 partners and you, together, can make enough $ to be able to get household help! And GO FOR IT

I have been lead designer for 40 years. HOWEVER, I have always designed collaboratively because I love great ideas. It is an expectation that people who work at MSP must contribute design ideas (yes, more of a female approach).  We discuss. We vote & choose the BEST design (I have biggest vote but it goes to the BEST solution- not always mine). We show the best “design strategies” to clients for discussion. When this is sorted out, we ALL jump on it and make it happen. I have had an incredible host of designers, ALL who have contributed immensely to MSP. The designs are not all from me.  But, I keep an eye on which ever direction we’re going on and defend the concept and  make sure it is done as well as possible. After 40 years of practice, 30 years of teaching- I can give a damn good critique!