Architecture for Humanity

Infobox Company
company_name = Architecture for Humanity
company_logo =
company_type = Non-profit organization
foundation = 1999
location = San Francisco, CA
key_people = Cameron Sinclair and Kate Stohr, Co-Founders
industry =
products =
revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
num_employees =
parent =
subsid =
homepage = [http://www.architectureforhumanity.org architectureforhumanity.org]
footnotes =

Architecture for Humanity is a charitable organization that seeks architectural solutions to humanitarian crises and brings professional design services to communities in need. They believe that where resources and expertise are scarce, innovative, sustainable and collaborative design can make a difference.

History

The organization was founded in 1999 by Cameron Sinclair and Kate Stohr in response to the need for immediate long shelter for returning refugees in Kosovo after the regions bloody conflict. After hosting a series of open design competitions the organization then began taking on a number of projects, pairing local communities with design professionals to develop a ground up alternative to development and reconstruction. To date it has worked in twenty six countries around the world and has over 50 local chapters.

The early history of the organization is chronicled in the book Design Like You Give A Damn: Architectural Responses to Humanitarian Crises

About

The organization provides pro-bono design services and funding for projects around the world. They are developing and building schools in West Africa, developing long term rebuilding efforts in Myanmar, and sustainable rebuilding initiatives on the Gulf Coast of the United States after Hurricane Katrina. Past initiatives also include long term reconstruction in India and Sri Lanka following the devastating Indian Ocean Tsunami as well as 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 Uganda; and earthquake reconstruction assistance in Pakistan, Turkey and Iran.

In 2007 the group hosted the AMD Open Architecture Challenge [http://www.openarchitecturenetwork.org/challenge] , 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 2009 they will host another Open Architecture Challenge, this time focused on improving portable classroom.

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 can be seen here: [http://www.pureandapplied.com/books/8/index.html]

Finally, the organization seeks to foster public appreciation for the many ways that architecture and design can improve lives.

"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."

Recognition

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'. Most recently the organization has been made the recipient of the 2007 Center for Architecture Foundation Award, a 2007 Travel + Leisure Global Vision Award in innovation.

In May 2008, the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum announced Architecture for Humanity had won the Design Patron Award highlighting the firm's committment to improving communities by providing pro bono, sustainable design services. [http://www.nationaldesignawards.org/2008/honoree/architecture-for-humanity]

In June 2008 the organization was profiled [http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/india705/] on Frontline/World as part of their series of Stories From A Small Planet.

Open Source Architecture

As a result of the TED Prize the organization worked with Sun Microsystems and Creative Commons to develop the Open Architecture Network [http://www.openarchitecturenetwork.org] [http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,72902-0.html] , the first open source system for supporting sustainable and humanitarian design and architecture. This network includes 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.

ee also

* [http://www.architectureforhumanity.org/chapters Architecture for Humanity local chapters]
* [http://www.afhuk.org Architecture for Humanity UK]

External links

* [http://www.architectureforhumanity.org Architecture for Humanity]
* [http://www.architectureforhumanity.org/programs/katrina/katrina.php Responding to Hurricane Katrina]
* [http://www.openarchitecturenetwork.org Open Architecture Network]
* [http://www.architectureforhumanity.org/designlikeyougiveadamn/ Design Like You Give A Damn]
* [http://creativecommons.org/education/architecture Creative Commons interview with Architecture for Humanity]
* [http://www.ted.com/tedtalks/tedtalksplayer.cfm?key=c_sinclair&flashEnabled=1 Talk by Architecture for Humanity co-founder Cameron Sinclair at the 2006 TED Conference]
* [http://eyeteeth.blogspot.com/2006/05/pragmatic-experimentation-interview.html Pragmatic Experimentation: An Interview with Cameron Sinclair]