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Doing good through design More firms are discovering the benefits of applying their expertise to a philanthropic cause. B E S T P R A C T I C E S
By LIISA ANDREASSEN Correspondent
has produced consistent and significant contri- butions to humanity and the built environment through architecture – sent a clear message by choosing Shigeru Ban, a Japanese architect who uses paper tubes and other novel materials to cre- ate paper-tube houses. “Whether you work for a private client or on a house for an earthquake victim, you’ve always got some problem to solve by design, the only differ- ence being whether you get paid or not,” he says, having more than once put up money for emergen- cy projects when the bureaucracy of relief ground too slowly. That’s what happened in Kobe, Japan, which was hit by an earthquake in 1995. Ban built a paper-tube house on his own dime, to show that it worked and could be constructed by anyone, then raised mon- ey with help from a local priest to construct dozens more for local Vietnamese refugees. He also built a temporary paper church, which became a symbol of resilience and pride. Nearly 20 years later, after being used for a decade and then moved to Taiwan, the church remains in operation. Ban said that young architects seem more and more interested in what he’s doing. “Ev- eryone used to want to be star architects. That’s no longer the case.” READY TO MAKE A CHANGE? Architects/Designers/Planners for Social Responsibility. This organization works for peace, environmental protection, ecological building, social justice, and the development of healthy communities. ADPSR programs aim to raise professional and public awareness of critical social and environmental issues, further responsive design and planning, and honor persons and organizations whose work exemplifies social responsibility. For more information: adpsr.org AIA Advocacy: For more than 150 years, the members of the American Institute of Architects have worked to advance the quality of life through design. From designing the next generation of energy-saving buildings to making our communities healthier and more vibrant, from helping neighborhoods rebuild after disasters to exporting American design know-how to the rest of the world, architects turn dreams and aspirations into reality. For more information: aia.org/advocacy/
Y es, you need to pay the bills, but is it possible to make payroll and do good, too? More and more firm leaders seem to think so. Pro bono work or working for change can enhance a firm’s public image and boost employee morale. SERVING SOCIETY. According to Michael Murphy, co- founder and executive director of MASS Design Group (Boston, MA), a nonprofit design firm, “In- creasingly, architecture is serving the wealthy few. We’ve come up with new models to deliver funda- mental services to communities that have been un- derserved.” “Increasingly, architecture is serving the wealthy few. We’ve come up with new models to deliver fundamental services to communities that have been underserved.” While still in graduate school, Murphy happened upon a lecture by Paul Farmer, founder of Part- ners in Health. Intrigued by his work in delivering healthcare to underserved communities in Africa, Murphy was surprised to discover that he had been building hospitals and clinics without the expertise or collaboration of an architect. As a result, Murphy and Alan Ricks founded MASS Design Group in 2008 and began working with the group to bring a creative, design-based approach to re-conceptualizing a hospital and, later, a school in Rwanda. Today, the designers hope that their suc- cess in improving people’s lives will serve as “an ex- ample for how designers can rethink their role in the world.” “Our diverse staff collectively enables a dynamic work environment, and we’re always learning from each other,” he says. PRITZKER PRIZE SENDS A MESSAGE. Last year, the jury for the Pritzker Architecture Prize – an international award presented each year to a living architect or architects whose built work demonstrates a com- bination of talent, vision, and commitment, which
See DOING GOOD, page 10
THE ZWEIG LETTER NOVEMBER 2, 2015, ISSUE 1126
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