Architects Building Peace, the book

Combining contingencies and good architecture: Architects Building Peace by Luca Sampó, editor of Boundaries magazine, is a collection of 70 humanitarian projects from around the world. Architecture as a way of creating both habitats and peace.



At a moment in time marked by armed conflict, mass migration and humanitarian disasters, architecture as a discipline is playing an increasingly essential part. Both as a legal tool on a par with Eyal Weizman's research through her initiative “Forensic Architecture”, and as the creation of new habitats for people seeking shelter and security.


Indalo & Collectif Saga, Silindokulhe Pre-School, South_Africa, photographer Joubert Loots


“Architects Building Peace” is an architectural project by Luca Sampò, editor of “Boundaries”, a magazine that has always focused on humanitarian and social architecture. At a time when the web rules, according to Sampò “the printed word, with everything that this means in terms of research, study and methodological work is much more reliable, and long-lasting, than the often far too volatile news that pops up on the web”.


LEVS Architecten, Tanouan Ibi Primary School, Mali, Photographer LEVS


So this new book tells the stories of humanitarian, social and sustainable architectural projects created in the world over the last ten years, and a crowdfunding campaign has been launched on Kickstarter to publish it. The 70-plus projects showcased in “Architects Building Peace” include schools, hospitals, cultural buildings, constructions using local, natural materials including earth and bamboo, addressing urban issues, participation and co-housing. A real handbook of fine architecture that can make the difference, both for the people who use the constructions and for those who pick up the book for inspiration, because it comes complete with critical essays, research, notes, stories, a bibliography and an analytical index, and of course it's full of drawings, plans and photos. 



The thing is that often the process of building peace starts with something concrete, like a school, a house, a community area.
You can find out more about the project and the crowdfunding campaign on the dedicated site.

Christiane Bürklein
Project: Architects Building Peace by Luca Sampò
Year: 2016
Images: courtesy of Boundaries - all rights reserved
Campaign Page: Architects Building Peace 
Website: www.architectsbuildingpeace.org