Dora Riedel

Dora Riedel was born on 11 March 1906 in Valdivia, Chile to German parents Carlos Riedel and Herminia Seinecke Deppe. She had a sister Alice and a brother Carlos.^[2] She began her education at the German School in Valdivia. After the end of the First World War, it is believed that the Riedel Seinecke family returned to Germany in 1918, living in Berlin and then returning to Chile in 1920. She moved with her family to the port city of Valparaíso, where she took lessons in oil painting and completed her secondary education.^[2] This interest in art inspired her to take up architecture rather than pursue a career in mathematics.^[3]

Her father was supportive and approached the director of the School of Architecture at the University of Chile to ask if they accepted women. When asked, the director confirmed that the school did accept woman and that Frida Ganther was already studying there. (Ganther completed the course of studies but died before she could be awarded a degree.) In 1925, Riedel matriculated at the University of Chile. She met her good friend Frances Barber whilst studying there. On 9 December 1930 Dora Riedel became the first woman to receive a degree in architecture in the country.^[4][5][3]

Following her graduation, Riedel spent a year working at the Chilean Ministry of Public Works.^[6]

In 1931, Riedel travelled to Germany, at first to Berlin then in 1933 where she continued her education at the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Stuttgart, studying with Paul Bonatz, Paul Schmitthenner and Heinz Wetzel completing her doctorate in Interior Architecture.^[3]