Great architecture is about more than buildings – it changes communities and lives

Architects have the power to create change. Great architecture can change the experience of whole communities. It can even save lives. But not every architect gets to see the end result of what they do.

I recently visited Boma, Tanzania, and truly saw the end goal of great architectural design as I enjoyed a slice of birthday cake with the twins who love living in the special children’s village we designed for them. They’re growing up and thriving in a safe, supportive environment now, instead of an overcrowded orphanage. For them, for us and for our partners, it’s about much more than a building.

I am very lucky to work at an NGO whose architects see this every day. At Article 25, we design innovative solutions for schools, hospitals, clinics, children’s homes and houses in the Global South. These are the places where it’s often most challenging to build, and also the places where facilities are needed the most.

Although we are an NGO delivering buildings for other NGOs, we don’t provide budget solutions to keep costs down. Our designs need to be cutting-edge to meet the demands of the places they are built – whether that means off-grid, climate-resistant, or using seismic design, with sustainability at their heart. As a result, our projects have been shortlisted for several architectural and engineering awards.

Right now we are working on a college for 1,200 students in Niger, a country with the lowest literacy rate in the world, a hospital in Monserrat to replace the one destroyed by a volcanic eruption, and rebuilding 450 houses in Dominica which were flattened by a hurricane (with a more resilient design). When you work with these communities, the real impact of great architecture is obvious.