Architecture for Humanity
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Architecture for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that seeks architectural solutions to humanitarian crises and brings design services to communities in need. It was founded in 1999 by Cameron Sinclair and Kate Stohr.
The organization is currently providing design services and funding for reconstruction in India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka following the devastating Indian Ocean Tsunami as well as long term sustainable rebuilding on the Gulf Coast of the United States after Hurricane Katrina. Past initiatives also include a number of international design competitions including Siyathemba youth sports and HIV/AIDS outreach facility; Outreach - Design Ideas for Mobile Health Clinic to Combat HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa; and Transitional Housing for Kosovo's Returning Refugees.
Architecture for Humanity aims to promote humanitarian and social design through partnerships, advocacy and education based programs. To that end, they have consulted with government bodies and relief organizations on a number of projects, including landmine clearance programs and playground building in the Balkans; transitional housing for IDPs in Afghanistan, Sudan and Grenada; school building in Tanzania; and earthquake reconstruction assistance in Pakistan, Turkey and Iran.
Finally, the organization seeks to foster public appreciation for the many ways that architecture and design can improve lives.
In 2005 Architecture for Humanity received the Index Award to Improve Life (community) and in 2006 was awarded the Rave Award for Architecture by Wired Magazine and the Innovation of the Year as part of the Observer Newspapers' Ethical Awards. In March 2006 its' co-founder Cameron Sinclair was awarded the 2006 Ted Prize which awards its' recipients 'One wish to change the world'. As a result the organization worked with Sun Microsystems and Creative Commons to develop the Open Architecture Network[1][2], an open source system for supporting sustainable and humanitarian design and architecture. This network will include project management, file sharing, a resource database and online collaborative design tools. A beta version of the site launched on March 8, 2007 at the 2007 TED Conference and within six months more than 600 projects were online.
The group is currently hosting the AMD Open Architecture Challenge[3], an open design competition to develop innovative off the grid technology centers in developing nations. Clients include a chocolate co-operative in Ecuador, a youth center in Kenya and a medical organization in Nepal.
In 2006 the book, Design Like You Give A Damn: Architectural Responses to Humanitarian Crises, edited by the organization was released by Metropolis Books and Thames and Hudson. This publication offers a history of the movement toward socially conscious design and profiles over 80 projects that have impacted the lives of communities around the world. The book (pretty cool) can be seen here (a few pages): [4]
"Architecture for Humanity represents the finest of the new breed of architectural leadership, employing architectural skills and directing them for the larger good," wrote Robert Ivy, editor of Architectural Record about the organization. "Committed, unapologetically architectural in name and mission, Architecture for Humanity stands up for people in need."
