Making space for the single woman: Housing, gender and social reform in early 20th century Europe

This paper examines how the material need for independent space for single working women in the early 20th century was addressed through a distinct form of architecture: purpose-built women’s residences. At the time, a personal room and independent income were scarce privileges for women, with housing options often limited to shared lodgings, tenement barracks or religious institutions. The shift in female labour patterns due to industrialisation led to an increase in women working in cities. This gave rise to the concept of the 'surplus woman'—a single, working woman viewed as both a modern paradox and an undesired societal phenomenon. The housing issue, exacerbated by economic inequality and limited opportunities for ownership, prompted the development of alternative residential typologies. The paper explores the architectural characteristics and social implications of women’s housing colonies in Switzerland, Germany, and the United Kingdom from the late 19th century to the 1930s through a comparative analysis of case studies. It argues that these residences played a pivotal role in advancing women’s emancipation by offering spaces for visibility and autonomy, while also reflecting broader tensions between reform, respectability, and control. Revisiting these housing models further contributes to current debates on single households, gender and urban planning