A lot of people may not know the term humanitarian architecture. However, we will have all seen it in one form or another, especially in the last few years. It is any kind of structure that is built to help with a humanitarian need. This could be emergency shelter following a natural disaster or temporary buildings for healthcare needs. We want to have a closer look at it here to see how we can make it invaluable. Then if you need help from architects in London, you can speak to us.

The challenge

Humanitarian architecture is absolutely crucial to help meet critical needs. For example, it can provide shelter and warmth, access to amenities, and facilities for families and communities. But, there can be a number of challenges. Locations can be tricky to access. They may also be inhospitable because of the climate. It is vital to find ways to overcome every challenge.

A major issue can be the scarcity of resources. A lot of locations with a humanitarian need don’t have materials easily accessible. So, projects need to find a way to get them to the area. Or they may need to make use of whatever is nearby. That can call for innovative designs.

Top tips

As top architects in London, we understand the goal is to meet the immediate needs of the community. However, to make the structures invaluable you should consider the future too. They could be pivotal to the recovery process and provide ongoing social value.

One of the best things to do to help achieve this is to involve the community. The greatest thing here is to ask them exactly what they need; it is much better than dictating from an outsider’s perspective. Involvement also empowers the community and develops a stronger sense of ownership and pride. If you involve the people in the construction too, you can teach them skills they can continue to use in the future.

As we said above, access can be an issue and resources can be scarce. A good solution is to rely on locals for labour and use materials from the area. It can help keep costs down and is great for getting people involved. This can be even better if you use traditional building techniques from the area and introduce modern ones to complement them. Using local materials is also great for the environment.

Finally, you should look to design structures that are sustainable. It is great to meet the immediate need, but the architecture will be even more valuable if the community can sustain it for the long term. There are different things you can do to achieve this. For example, you can task locals with maintaining the buildings. Or you can design them so they are adaptable and can change to meet different needs in the future.

In terms of sustainability, it is also good to create structures that are sustainable in terms of running costs. Where possible design them to make the most of natural lighting and ventilation. It will mean the structures are still usable even where there is no power.

Speak to reliable architects in London

Coffey Architects is one of the most creative teams you can work with. We can consider all aspects of architecture and ensure projects will provide as much value as possible. So, if you want any help, speak to us.