Dorothy Hughes (architect) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dorothy Hughes
Born	Eugenie Dorothy Ullman (1910-06-26)26 June 1910 London, England
Died	16 August 1987(1987-08-16) (aged 77) Tunbridge Wells, County Kent, England
Nationality	Kenyan
Occupation	Architect, politician

Eugenie Dorothy Hughes (born June 26, 1910 – died August 16, 1987) was an important Kenyan architect and politician. She also worked to improve society and helped people with disabilities. Dorothy Hughes started the Kenyan Council of Social Services. She also led the Sports Association for the Disabled. She was the first female architect in East Africa to own her own company. She is most famous for designing the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Nairobi.

Biography

Early Life and Education

Eugenie Dorothy Ullman was born in London, England, on June 26, 1910. When she was three years old, her parents moved to Eldoret in Kenya. They built the second building in that town. Dorothy grew up in Kenya.

Later, she went back to London for her education. She studied architecture at the Architectural Association School of Architecture. After finishing her studies, she returned to Kenya. She married John Hughes, who was a Ford car agent. They had six children together.

Becoming an Architect

In 1946, Dorothy Hughes became a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects. This is a special title for experienced architects. She then opened her own architecture company, called Hughes and Polkinghorne.

Her company designed many buildings. Some of these include the Golden Beach Hotel, Murangi House, and the Princess Elizabeth Hospital. She also designed the Rift Valley Sports Club and St. Mary's School, Nairobi.

In 1950, Dorothy Hughes received an award called the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE). She got this award for her work designing hospitals in Kenya. One of these was the Nakuru War Memorial Hospital.

Between 1950 and 1952, Dorothy Hughes was a leader in the East Africa Women's League. This group worked to raise money for more hospitals in Nairobi.

Making a Difference in Politics and Community

In 1955, Dorothy Hughes was elected to the Nairobi City Council. This meant she helped make decisions for the city. In 1956, she was chosen to represent settlers from the Uasin Gishu area on the Legislative Council.

In 1959, she was chosen to be a delegate for Kenya. She went to the 1960 Lancaster House Conference in London. This conference was very important for Kenya to gain its independence.

Dorothy Hughes lost her political seat in the 1961 elections. After this, she focused on helping her community. She worked on social welfare projects. For example, she helped with the Cheshire Homes, which support people with disabilities.

She was also a founding member of the Kenyan Council of Social Services. This council helps with many social programs. Dorothy Hughes also led the Kenya Sports Association for the Disabled. This group helps disabled people take part in sports.

Famous Buildings

Dorothy Hughes' most famous design is the Cathedral of the Holy Family. She designed it in 1960. This church is known for its modern style. It has colorful stained glass windows that are not pictures of people. The building also uses carrara marble and can seat 4,000 people. It has a main altar, two side altars, two halls, and eight chapels. Today, it is the main church for the Archdiocese of Nairobi.

In the late 1960s, she designed an addition to the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) building. This annex had a popular nightclub that looked like a flying saucer. It was famous for its local music, as well as Afro-Caribbean calypso and soukous rhythms. Both the Cathedral and the KTDA annex were listed as top buildings in Kenya by the Daily Nation newspaper.

Later Life

Later in her life, Dorothy Hughes gave her home in Nairobi to an organization called Opus Dei. Her home became the permanent location for Kibondeni College. She had worked with Opus Dei for many years to create educational chances for girls in Nairobi.

Dorothy Hughes passed away on August 16, 1987, in Tunbridge Wells, England. She was buried in St. Austin's Cemetery in Nairobi, Kenya.

Images for kids

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  Her noted design for Nairobi's Cathedral of the Holy Family

See also

In Spanish: Dorothy Hughes para niños