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Thu 11 Oct, 2007 10:15 am
Design Like You Give a Damn: Architectural Responses to Humanitarian Crises
by Architecture for Humanity
by Kate Stohr & Cameron Sinclair
Book Description
The greatest humanitarian challenge we face today is that of providing shelter. Currently one in seven people lives in a slum or refugee camp, and more than 3,000,000,000 people--nearly half the world's population--do not have access to clean water or adequate sanitation. The physical design of our homes, neighborhoods and communities shapes every aspect of our lives. Yet too often architects are desperately needed in the places where they can least be afforded.
Edited by Architecture for Humanity and now on its third printing, Design Like You Give a Damn is a compendium of innovative projects from around the world that demonstrate the power of design to improve lives. The first book to bring the best of humanitarian architecture and design to the printed page, Design Like You Give a Damn offers a history of the movement toward socially conscious design, and showcases more than 80 contemporary solutions to such urgent needs as basic shelter, healthcare, education and access to clean water, energy and sanitation.Design Like You Give a Damn is an indispensable resource for designers and humanitarian organizations charged with rebuilding after disaster and engaged in the search for sustainable development. It is also a call to action to anyone committed to building a better world.
Editorial Reviews
San Francisco Chronicle : Heavy on context and images, light on celebrity names, Design Like You Give a Damn is a bracing reminder that there's more to architecture than museums and posh private homes. Instead, the founders of the group Architecture for Humanity round up 77 nimble solutions to real-life problems: There are fiberglass domes for the homeless of Los Angeles, a schoolhouse in Burkina Faso with an arced steel roof that insulates the clay brick classrooms below -- even a water pump in South Africa that is powered by children playing on a merry-go-round. Truly inspirational.
Bill McKibben New York Review of Books : A book that is lovely in every sense of the word.. ...makes clear just how much talent is currently going to waste designing McMansions.
The Scotsman : Design Like You Give A Damn screams its message in its title. Good design is not a luxury, but a necessity.
Alice Waters Chez Panisse Foundation : This book brings forth the values of sustainability and diversity in a beautiful way-values which are as essential to our housing as they are to food we eat.
Treehugger : Design like you give a Damn is truly an important work-its lesson is that architecture and design are not about being on the cover of last week's New York Times Magazine but about making a difference in people's lives.
Alex Steffen World Changing : If you care about the future we're building, you ought to own a copy of Design Like You Give a Damn
Leilani Labong 7X7 Magazine : ...a 336-page love letter to architects worldwide who provide pro-bono design services to communities that have survived war, government oppression and natural disasters. It's also an antidote to apathy.
About Architecture for Humanity
About Architecture for Humanity
Architecture for Humanity is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 1999 to promote architectural and design solutions to global, social and humanitarian crises. Through competitions, workshops, educational forums, partnerships with aid organizations and other activities, Architecture for Humanity creates opportunities for architects and designers from around the world to help communities in need. We believe that where resources and expertise are scarce, innovative, sustainable and collaborative design can make a difference.
The organization is currently providing design services and funding for reconstruction in India and Sri Lanka following the devastating tsunami that struck South-East Asia in December 2004 as well as on the Gulf Coast of the United States after Hurricane Katrina.
In addition to implementing design initiatives and competitions, Architecture for Humanity supports humanitarian-directed design through advocacy. To that end, we have consulted with government bodies and relief organizations on a number of projects, including mine clearance programs and playground building in the Balkans; earthquake resistant construction techniques in Turkey and Iran; school building in Calcutta; refugee housing on the borders of Afghanistan and responding to Hurricane Ivan, Emily and Katrina. We have also provided referrals and advice to a number of organizations, including Oprah's Angel Network, African Regional Youth Initiative, Kansas City Economic Development Corporation, Kids With Cameras, Habitat for Humanity, Common Ground, UN Habitat, and others.
Finally, through exhibitions, media attention, conferences and forums, we foster public appreciation for the many ways that architecture and design can improve lives.
Educational Workshops
At the university level, architecture and design programs around the world have used our competitions and design criteria as a model for semester-long projects. In addition we have hosted student-led workshops focused on humanitarian-directed design at a number of universities. Elementary and high school students have also benefited from our design initiatives through after-school workshops.
Team Members
At the heart of Architecture for Humanity is a core group of people who have generously donated their time and efforts to keep AFH running. With advocates around the world Architecture for Humanity is truly becoming a global organization that encourages designers to make a difference.
MAIN OFFICE :
Executive Director/Co-founder: Cameron Sinclair (bio | where is Cameron?)
Managing Director/Co-founder: Kate Stohr (bio)
Office Manager: Beth Orser
Programs Manager: Stacy Sabraw
Programs Manager: Nathaniel Corum
Web Director: Lynn Standafer
Associate Programs Manager: Sola Morrissey
Bookkeeper: Ruthanne Martin
Interns: Morgan Boyles, Justin Green, Suzanne Hampton, Stacy Jed, and Megan McCall
GULF COAST:
Gulf Coast Develoment Director:Sherry-Lea Bloodworth
Program Manager: Michael Grote
Design Fellows:
India: Purmina McCutcheon
Sri Lanka: Susi Jane Platt
New Orleans: Eric Cesal
General Counsel: Steven Meier
Chief Financial Officer: Nicholas Constantakis
Media Relations: Galloway Media Group
AFH Advisory Board
We are a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization led by a board of directors and an advisory board which is replaced every two years. With each project, additional advisory board members are assembled based their individual areas of expertise. View Advisory Board Members
Local Groups
Over the last two years groups have sprung up around the world to lend their time and talents to community groups and advocate for better planning and design in their communities. Using this model over 2600 designers meet regularly to discuss and participate in design projects. Active groups are based in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Belfast, Chattanooga, Chicago, Dublin, Fargo, Houston, Iowa, London, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, St.Louis, Sydney, Tampa, Toronto, and Washington DC.
Press Inquiries?
We love talking about what we do. Our community partners and the designers who volunteer with us also love talking to the press. In fact, there are a lot of designers and partners who work with Architecture for Humanity. No surprise, we get a good number of press inquiries. So, in order to accommodate your request as quickly as possible, we've come up with a system: Read our press guidelines.
How do you improve living standards of five billion people?
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Photos and plans
http://www.openarchitecturenetwork.org/
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