Architecture using nonprofit approaches for inclusive design practices in underserved communities
Architecture using nonprofit approaches for inclusive design practices in underserved communities
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The entirety of this research is a precedent study for architects to implement inclusive design into their practices. Looking into what other countries and architects are doing to address the needs of the unheard while still making beautiful spaces is incredibly inspiring. Low-income communities deserve to have beautiful spaces just as much as the top income percentile. I hope someone reads this research and becomes more open and aware of the barriers faced by people of color and low-income families with community design and being considered in the architectural processes. This ignorance of the people has created significant gaps between social classes in architectural design and access for underserved communities.
The entirety of this research is a precedent study for architects to implement inclusive design into their practices. Looking into what other countries and architects are doing to address the needs of the unheard while still making beautiful spaces is incredibly inspiring. Low-income communities deserve to have beautiful spaces just as much as the top income percentile. I hope someone reads this research and becomes more open and aware of the barriers faced by people of color and low-income families with community design and being considered in the architectural processes. This ignorance of the people has created significant gaps between social classes in architectural design and access for underserved communities.
ROHINGYA CULTURAL MEMORY CENTRE
ROHINGYA CULTURAL MEMORY CENTRE
SIZE: 5392 Square Feet
LOCATION: Bangladesh
ARCHITECT: Rizvi Hassan
In many countries communities get displaced and forced to live in new areas. While some look at these new community members as a burden, the people of Bangladesh have taken their refugee's feedback and opinions into consideration. Making this new addition seen and valued, Rizvi Hassan applied ethnographic research to create a community space tailored for the Rohingya refugees. This methodology uses immersive observation and detailed interviews to fully understand the experiences, values, and difficulties encountered by the Rohingya refugees with the aim of establishing an environment that fosters a sense of belonging. "Identity crisis" was found to be a significant factor influencing well-being, indicating that researchers engaged in the essential ethnographic research practice of listening to and observing the community.
Rizvi Hassan's architectural approach, namely his contributions to projects such as the Rohingya Cultural Memory Centre, provides vital perspectives for interest in architectural endeavors using inclusive approaches in design for underserved individuals. His participatory design technique is notable for its central concept, which prioritizes engagement with the community to ensure that the building not only fulfills their physical specifications but also aligns with their cultural and emotional experiences. Hassan's work demonstrates a profound reverence for the community's past and a dedication to safeguarding it through architectural methods, highlighting the influence of architecture in maintaining cultural continuity and affirming identity. Hassan's style emphasizes the importance of qualitative research to develop architecture that is meaningful and influential in community settings. This approach ensures that projects are community-centered and environmentally friendly.
EKYA EARLY YEARS KANAKAPURA ROAD
EKYA EARLY YEARS KANAKAPURA ROAD
SIZE: 5392 Square Feet
LOCATION: Bengaluru
ARCHITECT: Collective Project
Repurposing an abandoned factory to establish a school, the Creative Project architecture firm use their design expertise to effect positive change within their local community. The initiative employs applied research approaches to transform an abandoned watch manufacturing facility into a functioning school. In addition to conducting architectural study, they also engaged with education theory and environmental psychology. To do this, theoretical ideas must be put to the test in real-world situations and modified in light of pragmatic factors like structural integrity, cost, and the planned use of spaces.
The Ekya Early Years Creative Project demonstrates a comprehensive combination of visual and applied research methods that can greatly benefit architecture with nonprofit approaches. The institution is built upon applied research, utilizing a multidisciplinary approach to effectively tackle intricate design difficulties. The success of the project in converting a deserted factory into a lively preschool highlights the potential of adaptive reuse in revitalizing unused facilities in an overlooked community, demonstrating it as a sustainable and cost-efficient method. Moreover, the focus on developing a fully engaging learning environment that effectively integrates indoor and outdoor areas sets a precedent for designing educational facilities that promote engagement with the natural world. By implementing these approaches, which prioritize sustainability, community engagement, and user well-being, architecture work has the potential to create environments that not only fulfill practical requirements but also enhance the social and cultural aspects of underserved communities.
WOMEN'S OPPORTUNITY CENTER
WOMEN'S OPPORTUNITY CENTER
SIZE: 23,680 Square Feet
LOCATION: Kayonza
ARCHITECT: Sharon Davis Design
The Women's Opportunity Center project, designed by Sharon Davis Design, employed a diverse range of research approaches to develop a highly influential and culturally significant architectural intervention in Rwanda. The project incorporates qualitative methodology research actively involving the community, comprehending their needs, and collaborating with Women for Women International, which exemplifies a qualitative research approach. The project collected detailed insights into the lives of the women through interviews, conversations, and interactive workshops. These insights helped shape the establishment of areas that facilitate skill development, community building, and economic opportunities. Primary research involves actively participating in the development of sustainable systems at the center, such as water purification and composting toilets. It also includes hands-on involvement from the center's staff.
The Women's Opportunity Center, designed by Sharon Davis Design, serves as a prime example of how qualitative and primary research approaches may greatly influence and revolutionize architectural projects with emphasis on nonprofit work. The project's success depended on gaining a thorough grasp of the local environment, customs, and requirements through direct interaction with the women of Rwanda who had survived war. By adopting a primary, hands-on approach, the designers were able to customize the architectural solution to meet the specific economic, social, and educational requirements of the community. This method also helped revive lost Rwandan design traditions and promote economic opportunities and social infrastructure. This project demonstrates the significance of integrating qualitative and primary research into the design process, guaranteeing that architecture acts as a catalyst for community empowerment and sustainable development.
As architects, we must challenge ourselves to ensure we are doing enough for the communities and people our structures will serve. It is simply not enough to assume we know what the people need, especially if our own lived experiences do not mirror poverty, racism, and the reality of communities struggling to be heard. We must listen and employ research to truly get to the source of the unmet needs and advocate for underserved groups to have equity.
As architects, we must challenge ourselves to ensure we are doing enough for the communities and people our structures will serve. It is simply not enough to assume we know what the people need, especially if our own lived experiences do not mirror poverty, racism, and the reality of communities struggling to be heard. We must listen and employ research to truly get to the source of the unmet needs and advocate for underserved groups to have equity.
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