Architects, Engineers, and Designers OH MY! Bringing Professionals Together to Meet Basic Human Needs

1 in 7 people around the world live in unplanned settlements (refugee camps, slums etc.) If nothing is done this number looks to increase to 1 in 3 in the next 20 years.

In 2006 Architecture for Humanity, founded by Cameron Sinclair, was awarded the TED prize for creating a platform for allowing professionals from a variety of fields together to tackle some of the issues involved with the global housing crisis. Sinclair felt that architecture should not simply seek to create a jewel on a pedestal, but should be based in socially responsible design that seeks to transform the ability of populations to live their lives. He found his moment to create this reality in 1999, responding to refugees returning to Kosovo. Sinclair made a call for architects, designers, engineers and entrepreneurs to create affordable, transitional housing for refugees using materials that were available in the region (including rubble, shipping containers, and natural materials). The purpose was to create housing to allow these refugees the ability to have the space and tools to rebuild their own homes.

Cameron Sinclair on open-source architecture | Video on TED.com

Since 1999, Architecture for Humanity has expanded to 40,000 professionals who volunteer their time and expertise to create innovative housing around the world (including here in the US). There are several different chapters across the country that handle regional issues as well as an open source website that allows these professionals to connect from around the world. Architecture for Humanity works to make their projects sustainable by involving local workforces, materials available to the region, and by utilizing expertise from volunteers allowing their cost to be kept at a minimum. They also strive to unite the architecture with the culture and to minimize the environmental impact of expanded housing projects. Architecture for Humanity now benefits over 10,000 people a year through building projects and impacts an additional 50,000 through training and outreach, building a network of people around the world who are working on issues of housing and shelter for their communities, both local and international.

A  few project that have been realized by Architecture for Humanity:

Vocational School in Bangladesh. Constructed using bamboo and other local woods. Solar lights and hot water. 2007

Rainwater Court, Nairobi. "A full-court basketball court with an integrated rainwater collection and UV purification system with solar panels for the water system and night lighting in areas without electricity. The full-court configuration has a 4,850 sq ft playing surface covered by metal roof and guttered to collect an estimated 90,000 liters of water per year. The building incorporates 30,000 liters of rainwater storage, with UV purification." http://www.openarchitecturenetwork.org/projects/rainwatercourt 

What really struck me with Architecture for Humanity was the realization of how powerful a network can be created just by giving people the platform to share ideas. With increases in technology, especially in communication, a village in Africa or a town in Montana can share their needs with the world and these needs can be met by an architect in New York or an engineer in Pittsburgh. Hopefully, we will continue to link these minds with the ever expanding toolbox that the internet and technology have provided us with.

A few final question to ponder when thinking about the issue of housing and shelter:

1. One of the greatest demands being placed on shelter is space. As the population of the world continues to grow and more and more people people are moving into urban areas, how will we meet the demands posed by this limitation?

2. How can the tools created by organizations like Architecture for Humanity influence the ways we think about out own housing and shelter and adapting it to be sustainable, environmentally friendly, affordable, and part of who we are as a culture?

PS I just found out that Cameron Sinclair spoke in Pittsburgh last Thursday :)

MASSIVE Change

I saw this exhibit in Chicago on MASSIVE Change years ago. It was fascinating! I think the projects show the importance (and elegance) of creativity and design to social innovation. The exhibit explored the ways in which design could improve human welfare. Many of the projects/systems/products would serve the BOP population described in the articles we read for this week. In particular, I recall seeing portable, low cost water filters and transportation methods that would create enormous, positive change: women who otherwise spent hours and hours a day hauling water from remote sources to their villages would have time to pursue other productive endeavors.

As the sidebar says, “Instead of structuring our project around professional design disciplines, like graphic design and industrial design, we looked at design from the perspective of the citizen.” The Massive Change approach fits in with the notion of frugal engineering described in the Sehgal article: maximize value to the customer while minimizing nonessential costs. After all, in order to truly provide value to the customer, the designer must see what the customer wants and needs. While the BOP population has not formerly been a traditional “customer,” it is indeed a critical population of customers and often times has unique needs.

CMU Social Impact By Design Course Blog

Carnegie Mellon's School of Design is currently (Fall 2010 semester) conducting a studio course called Social Impact by Design.  It's taught by Professor Bruce Hanington who chairs the Industrial Design Program.  They've created a great blog that is capturing social innovation resources, examples, and observations.  Check it out, either by clicking on the title above or by going to: http://socialimpactbydesign.wordpress.com/