Episode 140: Judith Chafee, Part 2 & Season 13 Wrap Up
Judith Chafee moved to Tucson in 1969 to establish her architecture practice, transforming four historic row houses into her home and studio. Her work uniquely blended a modernist education from the Northeast with a deep respect for Southwestern vernacular design. She prioritized sustainable, climate-responsive architecture—carefully siting buildings to optimize light and airflow, and using local, low-maintenance materials. Among her early projects was the Viewpoint Residence, designed for her mother, with interiors done collaboratively. In 1975, she designed the Putnam House for a paraplegic veteran, incorporating an open floor plan, wide doorways, affordable materials, and therapeutic elements like an indoor pool and courtyard. Later, she designed the Ramada House, notable for its concrete slump block construction and trellis canopy, and the Jacobson House, which features a dramatic library-staircase. In 1977, she received a fellowship at the American Academy in Rome, where she studied ancient and indigenous building techniques in Sardinia and Puglia. Upon returning, she completed the Blackwell House—an austere, modern structure later demolished despite preservation efforts. Judith also had a long teaching career at the University of Arizona, where she was the only female faculty member for several years. She emphasized environmental awareness and site-specific design, expecting students to analyze sun angles, wind, topography, and more. Known for her high standards and fierce defense of her students, she remained deeply committed to education. In 1983, she became the first woman in Arizona to be named an AIA Fellow. Her work slowed in the 1990s due to technological shifts, personal loss, and declining health. She retired from teaching in 1998 and passed away later that year.
Wrap Up:
On this week’s episode, we are wrapping up season 13!
This season’s theme is: “All Things Residential”. We are talking about ladies who were involved in residential projects. Which one was your favorite? Where you familiar with the work of any of the ladies before you heard the episode? If so, which one? Did any particular episode inspire you to become a residential architect?
Take a listen to today’s episode to know our thoughts. We hope that you enjoyed learning more about the fantastic ladies we discussed through the podcast. We continue to be inspired to learn more about each and everyone of them. We are going on a short break while we develop season thirteen and we’ll be back in spring 2026!
This is a great time to tell your friends about this season, re-listen to your favorite episodes, and start conversations about everyone you’ve heard about.
Caryatid: Alice Asafu-Adjaye
Alice is Ghanaian and studied at Nottingham University and then studied architecture at The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment at the University College London. After graduating she went on to work at Foster and Partners in London for six years. She then went to work for Adjaye Associates in London and was there for 9 years before helping launch the Ghana office for Adjaye Associates in 2012. In 2015, Alice founded MUSTARD, a boutique firm that focuses on developing contemporary architecture suited to the sub-Saharan African climate. Their project types include residential, commercial, and cultural. She also had an installation at the 2021 London Design Biennale. In addition to MUSTARD, Alice is also a founder of Architects Africa which is a collaboration of three different African firms to create a pan-African practice. I also found an article about the house Alice designed for herself in Accra, which is really stunning. It reminded me of how Judith designed her office and studio space and how she focused on vernacular architecture for Tucson just like Alice is doing in Ghana.
Agora:
Congratulations to Je’Nen Chastain for her future new podcast: “No Exceptions Taken”. A show about what it really means to lead, create, and evolve, in the world of architecture, design, and beyond. We can’t wait to listen and invite all our listeners to tune in as well!
Listeners don’t hesitate to share any exciting news that’s happening in your lives so that we can share the excitement and the wins together. Send us your news to our email shebuildspodcast@gmail.com
Mentioned on the episode:
References
“About Us.” Architects.Africa, architects.africa.
“ABOUT US | Mustard.” Mustard, www.mustardarch.com/about.
C.E., and Kathryn McGuire. “Judith Davidson Chafee.” Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation, dna.bwaf.org/architect/chafee-judith-davidson.
Domin, Christopher. “Judith Chafee | 1932 - 1998: The Influence of Place and Character.” Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation, preservetucson.org/stories/judith-chafee-1932-1998.
“Judith Chafee, FAIA.” Docomomo, www.docomomo-us.org/designer/judith-chafee.
“Judith Davidson Chafee, FAIA (1932-1998).” USModernist Archives, www.usmodernist.org/chafee.htm.
Sisson, Patrick. “Judith Chafee: Dean of Desert Architecture.” Curbed, 10 Aug. 2017, archive.curbed.com/2017/8/10/16120726/judith-chafee-midcentury-architect-tucson.
Stathaki, Ellie. “On a Tight Urban Plot in Accra, an Architect’s Striking Home.” Wallpaper*, 5 June 2025, www.wallpaper.com/architecture/residential/compact-house-alice-asafu-adjaye-accra-ghana#:~:text=Asafu%2DAdjaye%20set%20up%20her,special%20place%20in%20her%20heart.
Wikipedia contributors. “Judith Chafee.” Wikipedia, 18 Aug. 2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Chafee.
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