Design Like You Give A Damn: Architectural Responses To Humanitarian Crises - Architecture for Humanity

The greatest humanitarian challenge we face today is that of providing shelter. Currently, one in seven people lives in a slum or refugee camp, and more than 3,000,000,000 people--nearly half the world's population--do not have access to clean water or adequate sanitation. The physical design of our homes, neighborhoods and communities shapes every aspect of our lives. Yet too often architects are desperately needed in the places where they can least be afforded.

Edited by Architecture for Humanity and now on its fifth printing, Design Like You Give a Damn is a compendium of innovative projects from around the world that demonstrate the power of design to improve lives. The first book to bring the best of humanitarian architecture and design to the printed page, Design Like You Give a Damn offers a history of the movement toward socially conscious design, and showcases more than 80 contemporary solutions to such urgent needs as basic shelter, healthcare, education and access to clean water, energy and sanitation.

Design Like You Give a Damn is an indispensable resource for designers and humanitarian organizations charged with rebuilding after disaster and engaged in the search for sustainable development. It is also a call to action to anyone committed to building a better world.

About the Author

Cameron Sinclair is the co-founder and 'chief eternal optimist' (CEO) for Architecture for Humanity, a charitable organization which builds architecture and design solutions to humanitarian crises, and provides pro-bono design and construction services to communities in need. Over the past twelve years the organization has worked in forty four countries and has over seventy independent city-wide chapters. Projects range from schools, health clinics, affordable housing and long term sustainable reconstruction after disasters. As a strong believer in 'cultural diplomacy' Sinclair has been working on a series of projects to re-think cultural and civic institutions within the social fabric.



Sinclair and Architecture for Humanity co-founder Kate Stohr compiled the bestselling books Design Like You Give A Damn 1 and 2. As a frequent teacher and visiting professor is heavily involved in bringing socially relevant design into academia and holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Westminster.



Sinclair is a recipient of the TED prize and a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. In 2008 Sinclair and Stohr were named as recipients of the National Design Awards and the following year jointly awarded the Bicentenary Medal by the Royal Society of Arts for increasing people's resourcefulness. In 2011 Sinclair was made a Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council and took an advisory role at USAID with a focus on reforming international aid.



Sinclair and Stohr launched the Open Architecture Network, the worlds' first open source community dedicated to improving living conditions through innovative and sustainable design. In 2011 this network merged with Worldchanging to become a central destination for collaborative solutions to change the world.