Archinect - News

Shigeru Ban arrives in Ecuador to train locals in relief architecture

2016-04-29T14:25:00-04:00

Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban is once more jumping into disaster-relief efforts. The cardboard-wielding starchitect traveled to Ecuador earlier this week [...] to provide architectural training and brainpower in the wake of the deadly earthquake April 16 earthquake, which has killed more than 650 people and displaced another 26,000 from their homes.

The Colegio de Arquitectos del Ecuador Provincial de Pichincha issued this statement on its website (Google-translated from the original Spanish text):

"The Association of Architects of Ecuador, Pichincha Chapter (CAE-P) and the Pan American Architecture Biennial of Quito, officially announced the arrival of the Japanese architect Shigeru Ban because of the events that took place following the seismic event occurred on April 16 in the coastal area of Ecuador. The winner of the Pritzker prize expressed his solidarity with the moment in the country and has expressed interest in visiting the affected area and provide training sessions under these circumstances in the capital city."

AIA group initiative for Nepal vies to overcome common obstacle of delayed rebuilding efforts

2015-07-23T16:34:00-04:00

By planning ahead now, while the humanitarian response is underway, this reconstruction program can bring additional resources to those efforts, overlapping the relief phase so as to rebuild communities that feel like home - but in an accelerated manner. This is what we don't see currently happening when disaster strikes, and so this effort presents a unique opportunity to standardize a model that can be followed by others - nationally and internationally - moving forward.

As Nepal continues to deal with the aftermath of the deadly April 25 earthquake, the American Institute of Architects Foundation — now known as the Architects Foundation — recently announced with relief group All Hands Volunteers a two-year $3 million initiative for the reconstruction of villages devastated by the quake. Architects Foundation Executive Director Sherry-Lea Bloodworth-Botop sums up the three-phase initiative, which plans to use an accelerated, community-driven approach in the design and realization of rebuilding the homes. Additionally, the initiative includes providing training in construction practices to local communities.

More about the Nepal earthquake on Archinect:

"The trauma of rebuilding": After Kathmandu's earthquake, what can architects do? We talk with a Nepalese architect on the ground for Archinect Sessions #27

How Architects Can Help Nepal (And Learn From Past Disastrous Mistakes/Successes)

Another powerful earthquake has hit Nepal

Shigeru Ban responds to th...

Design 21 Announces Winners of ‘Help Japan’ Competitions

2011-06-22T16:02:19-04:00

DESIGN 21 just announced the results of its ‘Help Japan’ competitions, a multi-faceted effort to support Japan and help provide relief to the disaster areas at different stages of the recovery process. Two product competitions, based on the design of a greeting card and symbolic charity accessory, were created to provide mid-level support. [...] The third competition asked for ideas that contribute to long-term relief, recovery and rebuilding.