Design with a Conscience: Planning for Architecture of the Future

Posted by Andree Iffrig Oct 31, 2008

In its October 2008 issue, Architectural Record makes a case for socially responsible architecture, and not just because it’s the right thing morally. Put global warming, climate-related catastrophes, and explosive population growth together, and you have a recipe for disaster. By 2040, it is projected these three factors will result in a third of the world’s population living in slums.

David Sokol, the guest editor for this issue of the magazine, makes a compelling case for embracing social responsibility when it comes to housing the poor; to ignore their plight is no longer an option.

There are charities dedicated to addressing the housing crisis globally, including Architecture for Humanity, Architects Without Frontiers, and Habitat for Humanity. Sokol reasons the scale of their operations is so small that at best they offer a template for a better way to build sustainably. Operating at a larger scale are organizations like the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and its sister agency, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC).

A salutary lesson from the AKDN is that change of a magnitude to address these crises requires a long time horizon and a willingness to work collaboratively: with residents, civic authorities, government departments and agencies, and international aid agencies. There are no quick fixes, given unstable political regimes, the immensity of the problem and the number of stakeholders who must be consulted.

As North Americans hunker down because of the credit crisis, it is worth remembering that most of the world lives with less than we do; we are in a position to respond to the shelter crisis and global warming. Now is not the time to become selfish and introspective. The stakes are just too high.