Alexandra Biriukova facts for kids

Alexandra Biriukova (born July 10, 1895 – died February 10, 1967) was a Canadian architect and nurse. She is famous for being the first woman to join the Ontario Association of Architects. She was also the second woman in all of Canada to officially register as an architect. Her most well-known design is the home of artist Lawren Harris.

Early Life and Education

Alexandra Biriukova was born in Vladivostok, a city in Russia, on July 10, 1895. Her father, Dimiti Biriukoff, was a chief engineer. He helped build the very first trans-Siberian railway.

In 1911, Alexandra began studying architecture. She earned her degree from the School of Architecture in Petrograd, Russia.

Moving to Canada

In 1914, during a time of big changes in Russia called the Russian Revolution, Alexandra and her family left their home country. They moved to Rome, Italy.

In Rome, she continued her studies. In 1925, she earned another architecture degree from the Royal Superior School of Architecture. She worked as an architect in Rome from 1924 to 1929.

In 1929, Alexandra moved again, this time to Toronto, Canada. Her sister, Yulia Biriukova, who was an artist, already lived there. In 1931, Alexandra officially registered with the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA). This made her the first woman to join this important group of architects.

Architectural Work

When Alexandra Biriukova first arrived in Toronto, her first project was likely designing the inside of a Russian Orthodox Church.

However, her most famous work is the home she designed for the artist Lawren Harris. This house was built in the Art Deco style. Art Deco was a popular design style in the 1920s and 1930s. It used bold geometric shapes and rich decoration. The Harris home was one of the few houses in Toronto built in an avant-garde style. This means it was very modern and ahead of its time.

The Lawren Harris House

Construction on the Harris house began in 1931. It is located at 2 Ava Crescent in Forest Hill, a neighborhood in Toronto. The house looks very balanced and smooth. It has simple, strong shapes.

Another architect, Douglas Kertland, first drew some plans for the house. But Lawren Harris asked Alexandra Biriukova to change them. She completely reworked the designs. Today, she gets all the credit for the final look of the house. Her design was seen as very "radical" or new for that time.

At first, some people didn't like the Harris home. They thought it was too different. But today, the building is still admired. The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) even named it one of the top ten Art Deco buildings in Toronto.

Challenges and Recognition

Alexandra Biriukova's work has not always been fully recognized in art history. Some historians have tried to make her role in designing the Harris house seem less important. Even though her name was on the official building plans, some people have questioned how much credit she should get.

For example, one art historian suggested that Lawren Harris himself might have influenced most of the design. He said the house's geometric plan matched Harris's own interests. However, other historians, like Cynthia Hammond, call these ideas "troubling." They believe these ideas might be unfair because Alexandra was a woman.

It is very likely that Alexandra Biriukova, coming from Europe, knew about the newest design ideas. She would have known about the "avant-garde" Russian architects. She also would have known about the modern designs from the Bauhaus School in Germany. Her design for the Harris house showed these new "international style" ideas from Europe. Lawren Harris had also visited Europe before building his house. He was looking for modern design ideas there too.

After she finished the Harris house, Alexandra Biriukova did not get any more architectural projects. Some historians wonder why. Perhaps the modern style was "too much for conservative Canadians." Or maybe the Great Depression, a time when many people lost their jobs and money, meant there was less work for architects. It could also have been because she was a Russian woman. The Depression likely caused a "dearth of work," meaning there was very little work available.

Later Life

In 1934, Alexandra Biriukova decided to change careers. She registered as a nurse. She never worked as an architect again.

Instead, she worked at the Free Toronto Hospital for the Consumptive Poor. She continued working there until she retired in the 1960s. Alexandra Biriukova passed away in Toronto in 1967.