(Architecture for Humanity) In the moments before an elaborate party, an entire universe seems held in a state of suspension. Deep within Philadelphia’s repurposed Electric Factory, blue patterned lights sweep a dance floor, empty save for staff in black tees crossing to their last-minute preparations. Clusters of other staffers chat before their shifts begin. Mic…
(Architecture for Humanity) In the weeks after a series of destructive and deadly tornadoes swept through central Oklahoma, Architecture for Humanity has been assisting communities, meeting rebuilding authorities, and assessing still-emerging needs and long term priorities for the stricken towns. Background & Current Status Between May 18 and June 2, a series of tornadoes touched…
(The Guardian) When discussing public health, architecture is not generally the first thing that springs to mind. Yet its influence on us is inescapable. Architects play a critical role in shaping the qualities of our environment; they work in collaboration with end users and their needs and ambitions, and they have the power to restore…
(Huffington Post) As we pick up the pieces after the Moore, Oklahoma, tornado — and honor the deceased — we’re getting figures now that this tornado, while not the most powerful recorded, may possibly be the most expensive in U.S. history. We at Architecture for Humanity, like many, pause and wonder at how much damage…
(Architecture for Humanity) Linus Lam is the remaining active founder the first Canadian Architecture for Humanity chapter, in Vancouver. In the past four years, the Vancouver Chapter has worked on everything from self-initiated projects, hosting talks and conferences, to collaborations with the City of Vancouver and the Haiti Rebuilding Center. We spoke with him recently…
(Architecture for Humanity) Ricardo Daza is beyond dedicated to the Bogotá Chapter he himself launched in 2009 with two of his non-architect friends. In four years the Chapter has helped hundreds of people over a dozen projects – all conducted in their own time after work, with the help of other volunteers and interns. It…
(Students Rebuild) In February 2013, I flew to Tohoku, Japan, site of the devastating 3.11 earthquake and tsunami, on behalf of Students Rebuild to track the progress on reconstruction in the region, and the impact of the Paper Cranes for Japan Challenge that funneled support and 100,000 cranes to the region as a symbol of…
On a strangely snowy morning at the We Are One youth center, near the mouth of the Kitakami River, twenty-three students gathered to collectively envision, with their minds and hands, improvements to their town.
(Architecture for Humanity) On February 24, 2013, the residents of the fishing village of Maeami-hama, on a secluded inlet on the Pacific coast of Tohoku, gathered to celebrate the opening of its new community house. The fishermen and their families invited Tokyo-based designers KMDW architects and project coordinators Architecture for Humanity Japan (in Ishinomaki as…
(Students Rebuild) On February 23, Students Rebuild and Architecture for Humanity led a student design charrette at the recently completed “We Are One” Market and Youth Center in Kitakami. Students from grades 1-5 came spent the Saturday morning building their visions from all sorts of craft and recycled market supplies, from paints, pipe cleaners and…
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