Did you know that 10th December is National Human Rights Day? It celebrates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948, one of the most crucial documents to clarify the freedoms of people all around the world, regardless of differences like gender, nationality, or religion. To mark the anniversary, it’s a great time to look at how architecture facilitates these rights. Let’s dive in, then if you want some help from a top architect in London, you can rely on us.

Homes

There are a few crucial articles in the UDHR that touch on architecture. The key ones are Article 3 (the right to life, liberty, and security of person), Article 17 (the right to own property), and Article 25 (the right to a good standard of living). A good quality, safe home is vital for health, wellbeing, and happiness. Therefore, it is important that governments, architects, builders, and other stakeholders deliver suitable housing.

There’s a lot to think about if you look at homes and how to ensure they don’t infringe on human rights. This includes availability and accessibility. Crucially, they must deliver the right standard of living. In addition, it is vital to consider things like alienation and disaffection. Factors like adaptability and sustainability are important too.

A big challenge here is that it can be tricky to preserve the rights and dignity of people when looking at two cornerstones of architecture; space and materials. It is something various stakeholders need to think about, including developers and planning authorities. As a top architect in London, we’re ready to tackle it.

From a spatial perspective, the challenge is needs can differ greatly. Plus, there can be situations such as busy urban areas where it is tricky to ensure access, safety, and the size of properties. In terms of materials, the ultimate goal is to only use those that won’t have a negative impact on health. That is why things like asbestos are banned.

Standard of living

Focusing specifically on living standards, good architecture can provide a huge list of benefits. For example, it can ensure homes are safe, light, warm, have good air quality, and provide adequate security. There’s plenty to think about, such as sanitation and access to amenities.

Architects have a lot of challenges here, but also plenty of opportunities too. The biggest challenge is supplying enough high quality homes for everyone, catering for different needs. Developing tech, including 3D printing, can provide new avenues to explore. Additionally, techniques like modular construction and approaches like community-centred design are fantastic.

Discuss your ideas with a leading architect in London

Good quality homes are essential for human wellbeing. It’s our pleasure to design them, working with different clients to deliver incredible designs. We can ensure accessibility, a great standard of living, and sustainability. Plus, we can also account for the wider integration and create strong communities.

So, if you want to work with an exceptional architect in London, please get in touch with Coffey Architects. We can design all kinds of homes and housing, just have a look at our portfolio to get an idea.