Francine Marie Jeanne Houben is a Dutch architect who graduated with cum laude honors from the Delft University of Technology. She is the founding partner and creative director of Mecanoo architecten, an architecture firm based in Delft, The Netherlands.
Houben’s work spans a wide range of projects, including universities, libraries, theaters, residential areas, and museums. Her approach to architecture combines social, technical, playful, and human aspects of space-making. She is particularly known for her design of libraries, including the Library of Birmingham and the refurbishment of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C.
Houben has received numerous accolades for her work, including the 2014 Woman Architect of the Year award by the Architects’ Journal.
