Signe Hornborg facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Signe Hornborg
Born	November 8, 1862 Turku, Finland
Died	December 6, 1916 Helsinki

Signe Ida Katarina Hornborg (born November 8, 1862, in Turku, Finland – died December 6, 1916, in Helsinki, Finland) was a pioneering Finnish architect. She made history in 1890 when she received her architecture diploma, becoming the world's first official female architect. This was a huge step forward for women in a field mostly dominated by men at the time.

About Signe Hornborg's Life

Signe Hornborg was the daughter of a bishop. She began her studies at the Helsinki Polytechnic Institute in the spring of 1888. It was quite unusual for women to study architecture back then.

Becoming an Architect

Signe was allowed to graduate as an architect in 1890 through a special permission. This was because female students were not usually accepted into the school's architecture program. After finishing her studies, she started working with another architect named Elia Heikel. Later, she joined the office of Lars Sonck, who was a well-known architect.

Her Architectural Works

One of Signe Hornborg's most famous designs is a building called Signelinna. It's also known as Nerwanderin talo or Nerwander House, and it's located in Pori, Finland. She designed this building in 1892.

She also helped design the outside of the Sepänkatu Apartment Building in Helsinki in 1887. At that time, it was not common for women to design entire buildings on their own. Architecture was seen as a man's job.

Signe Hornborg worked in a style called national romanticism. This style often uses elements from nature and traditional designs. She even helped design the fire department building in Hamina without asking for any payment. She also worked on buildings for children in need in Helsinki.