Architecture for Humanity

My heroes. [Thanks to IIAD for creating this video that gives so much insight on their 2010 Pioneers in Design Award winner, Architecture for Humanity.]

Moving Windmills: The William Kamkwamba Story

If you are ever stuck thinking that you don’t have the tools or resources to be innovative, think again!   At the age of 14, Malawian William Kamkwamba Malawan created a functioning wind turbine after merely seeing an image of one!  Inspired by the dream of providing his family with electricity and a water pump, William’s [...]

Fun Can Change the World

My heart swells a little each time I watch the above videos from the Fun Theory.  Simple, yet well produced, each of the Fun Theory projects realizes great success.  Their theory has been proven: “that something as simple as fun is the easiest way to change people’s behavior for the better. Be it for yourself, [...]

Masdar, City of the Future

What two things come to mind when you hear the name United Arab Emirates?  Oil and Money. It’s well known that the UAE, a country smaller than the state of Virginia, have both of these commodities in spades.  The UAE is also one of the biggest producers of green house gas emissions in the world, [...]

Toilets: Composting vs. Conventional

Who thinks twice about using cow dung as natural fertilizer?  It IS poop, you know.  So what about using human feces as manure?  Sound a bit gross and unhygenic?  Consider the following… Every time someone flushes a conventional toilet, the waste matter is sent down into sewage pipes, where it’s then led to a local [...]

Craftsmanship with a Cause

Take a tragic situation, add one strong woman, many compassionate friends and several years of struggle… what do you get?  The Blessing Basket Project. Her story is inspiring and emotional, and that strong woman, Theresa Wilson, found a way to pull herself out of a dark place and give the gift of a better life [...]

House Party for Hope

Kids With Cameras, the non-profit inspired by the Academy award-winning documentary ‘Born into Brothels’ has BIG plans!  For the past year Kids With Cameras has been persistently raising money to support their ‘Hope House’ (Asha Niwas).  This beautiful and sustainably designed facility is every bit as life-changing and inspirational as the name implies.  The Hope [...]

And the Winner is….

A couple of weeks ago we encouraged you to check out all of the Architecture for Humanity Open Architecture Challenge entries.  Today, AFH announced the winner: The Teton Valley Community School by the Section Eight design team!! $50,000 will be awarded to the school in Victor, Idaho, United States  and $5,000 will be awarded to [...]

B Corp: good companies

“How do we tell the difference between a ‘good company’ and just good marketing?” So you’re a company who says you want to do good, go green and make a positive impact on the world.  How do we, the consumers, know you’re telling the truth?  Well, if you are a certified B Corporation, through the [...]

Power of the People

“People ignore design that ignores people.” -Frank Chimero found via www.quotesondesign.com, a wonderful new website by Chris Coyier. Photographia via moi’.

Open Architecture Challenge

There are two issues that I am extremely passionate about: education and design.  Together they are an unstoppable force and WILL change this world.  When I am not preoccupied with a ‘real’ job, humanitarian efforts which work towards delivering education in a well-designed package are my life blood. Architecture for Humanity is an amazing organization [...]

CANstruction

That’s right, CANstruction.  Meaning all of those sculptures above are made from cans that will be donated to the local Mana Food bank after the competition.  Put on by local AIA chapters accross the country, CANstruction is a really fun way to for an entire office to be involved in a community event and to [...]

Visionary

A few days ago I spoke to the jovial and brilliant Professor Joshua Silver (director at The Center for Vision in the Developing World in Oxford) about his not-so-new invention, a pair of eyeglasses that the wearer can adjust to correct his or her own vision. Adjustable Spectacles work by means of  two small syringes, [...]

Buy One, Give One

“Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life.”   -Dalai Lama What if every time someone bought a new pair of shoes, a second pair were given away free to a [...]

Random Acts of Kindness

You’ve heard the saying, right?  And you know what it means:  Do something kind for someone just for the sake of kindness itself.  Smile, give a hug, pay someone’s toll, feed someone who’s hungry… be kind and be compassionate to those around you. Ark, which stands for Acts of Random Kindness, is a brand whose [...]