Anna Branzell facts for kids

Anna Branzell (born Anna Lous-Mohr) was an important architect. She was born in Norway in 1895 and later became Swedish. Anna made history in 1919. She was the first woman to graduate with an architecture degree in Sweden. She studied at the Royal Institute of Technology.

Anna Branzell's Early Life and Education

Anna Branzell was born in Bergen, Norway. Her father, Olaf Mohr, was a pastor. As a young girl, Anna wanted to study medicine. However, she got scarlet fever. This illness affected her hearing and memory. Because of this, she could not pursue medicine.

Becoming an Architect

Anna then decided to study architecture. When she applied to the Royal Institute, a professor named Lars Israel Wahlman tried to stop her. He told her that women architects would ruin their hands on building sites. This only made Anna more determined. She decided to go ahead with her studies anyway. She successfully graduated in 1919.

Learning from Top Architects

After graduating, Anna worked with some of Sweden's best architects. She learned from Gunnar Asplund, Sigurd Lewerentz, and Hakon Ahlberg. These experiences helped her grow as an architect. She then continued her studies in the United States.

Anna Branzell's Architectural Career

In 1923, Anna returned to Bergen. There, she married a Swedish architect named Sten Branzell. Together, they started their architectural work.

Designing Public Spaces

One of their first projects was for Kviberg Cemetery. This cemetery is located in the north of Gothenburg. They submitted plans to update and expand the cemetery. They won second prize in the competition. Gunnar Asplund, one of Anna's former mentors, won first prize.

Over time, Anna Branzell became very interested in social projects. She focused on housing for people, parks, and playgrounds. She also thought about how children fit into society.

Creating for Children

In 1932, Anna designed an orphanage. An orphanage is a home for children who do not have parents. This building was on Uddevallagatan. Today, it is used as an office for an electronics company. Many of her drawings from her city planning work are kept in the city archives. These drawings show her ideas for making cities better places.

Later Life

Anna's husband, Sten Branzell, became the city planner for Gothenburg. He passed away in 1959. Anna lived a long life, reaching 88 years old. She passed away in 1983. Both Anna and Sten Branzell are buried in Kviberg Cemetery.

Images for kids

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  Anna Branzells Gata in Kviberg, Göteborg, 2020.