Nov 20, 09
Bucky Done Gone: The Dome Home In Decay
I'm currently on a 10 year anniversary tour to talk about the role of design and architecture and its' impact on society. Tomorrow I speak at University of Miami and early this week at Rice University both with the titled talk 'When sustainability is a matter of survival'. With this as my context It was a chance visit a few weeks back in Southern Illinois that has stuck in my head. In late February I got the opportunity to go to the University of Southern Illinois - Carbondale, a rural...
When local profit based social ventures date international non profits
Last week I wrote about the American Express Members Project and a project to develop sustainable weaving cooperatives that (full disclosure) my organization, Architecture for Humanity, is involved in. This project, spearheaded by Lulan Artisans, is part of a growing new model of philanthropic initiatives within international development - the small scale hybrid.
When appropriate design meets sustainable livelihoods
In many parts of rural South Asia young women are often left with little option in gaining an income. Unfortunately thousands, some younger than 12, are being trafficked and lost into prostitution every year. In July I was in Bangkok to meet with some of our Burma reconstruction teams and happened to connect with Eve Blossom. Eve is the founder of Lulan Artisans, locally driven social venture that creates an alliance between textile designers and artisans to produce hand-woven fabrics...
A Case for Sustainable Reconstruction In Pisco
On Wednesday evening an 8.0 earthquake struck central Peru, devastating the Ica region of the Andean country. The official death toll from this unfolding disaster currently stands at 502 [as of 16 Aug -- Ed.]; around four hundred of these were residents of Pisco, a city of over 100,000 near the epicenter of the main quake. Pisco is reported to have lost 80 percent of its homes. As we speak the usual suspects of international disaster response and recovery are busy on the ground. Typically,...
I choo-choose you.
A few weeks ago I did an update post on some of the changes happening at Architecture for Humanity. 2006 was an amazing year for us (see: Year in Review) and we decided for the first time in seven years to revamp our website, including graphic identity. In terms of a new approach rather than working in-house we challenged anyone to develop a new logo, including WC readers. In less than 2 weeks we received 812 entries from 65 countries. By using Flickr to jury the competition we enlisted...
What's Next: Cameron Sinclair
-- Embracing the leapback and an open approach to innovation. -- If you have access to the tools for creating physical change in your community chances are you live in a privileged and highly networked community. For most of the world there is an innovation divide that continues to grow, not because of the lack of creativity or passion but the barriers surrounding the ability to share ideas, collaborate and to adapt existing solutions continue to spiral out of the reaches of those who need...
Cane and Able
When you think Habitat for Humanity you rarely think innovative, sustainable housing with usage of appropriate materials. Every time I find an affiliate chapter take a new look at housing I have to tip my hat. As many know Habitat, founded by Millard and Linda Fuller, is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. It is reported that the organization is now the largest home builder in the world. Founded in 1999 HFH Kyrgyzstan turned a new leaf in 2004 when they introduced a new...
Win $1000 and feel good about it.
Two little pieces of news from Architecture for Humanity. The first is that both founders of Architecture for Humanity will be giving a lecture on sustainable and humanitarian design at the San Francisco chapter of the American Institute of Architects on December 5th (just before the Worldchanging party at Minna). I will also be at the Commonwealth Club on the 7th but will focus on the forthcoming open source architecture network. Secondly we have launched a logo design competition. ...
Mortars to Mochas
Azmeraw Zekele is one of the new breed of African entrepreneurs who are creating new business models through interesting forms of sustainable manufacturing. Based in Mek'ele, Ethiopia Azmeraw and his staff are recycling used mortar shells from the 1998-2000 war between Ethiopia and Eritea and turning them into cylinders for coffee machines. Word from the streets of Mek'ele is it makes a damn good cup of joe. 'End of post' story - In learning about this story I also found an interesting...
The Space of No(w)here – tackling homelessness
According to Unicef there are an estimated 750,000 people living on the street in the United States and a further 3,000,000 in Europe Tackling the issue of how to address urban homelessness has been a constant thorn in the side of the design and construction industry. There should be a basic rule – if you cannot design a basic shelter, you cannot call yourself an architect. Earlier this year the website Designboom tried to address this issues by hosting the ‘shelter in a cart’...
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