Architecture, Urban Design & the SDGs
Why the UN SDGs are important in Architecture & Urban Planning
The Sustainable Development Goals can provide a source of inspiration for architects and urban planners. Socially engaged architecture creates healthier places and, therefore, healthier people, communities, and societies. Considering the issues of sustainable development in work means adhering to the needs of society, both human and non-human needs, and building a better, resilient future with a long-term mindset.
Resources
-
Architecture Guide to the SDGs
A list of specific projects and actions that can be taken by architects globally to address each of the 17 goals.
-
SDG Fund: The Role That Architecture Can Play in Development
The act of designing buildings consistent with the SDGs means to create healthier places and, therefore, healthier people, communities, and societies. Cities are important both in terms of their vulnerability as well as their growth opportunity.
-
UN AURA: Sustainable Urban Planning Guide
A guide for best practices for real estate developers and architects. Development and construction actions have a strong impact on all global indicators in a city with demographic and economic growth. AURA is a specific project that must be led by municipalities.
-
How Can Architecture Contribute to the SDGs
Looking at Vol.2 of the Architecture Guide - contains many specific projects that illustrate how architecture can make significant contributions regardless of budget, location or resources available. The projects vary from large-scale political planning projects to small-scale interventions on a grass-root level.
-
Socially Responsible Architecture
A human-centric approach towards architecture that agglomerates the concept of “for the people – by the people”, and puts a priority on social responsibility. Architects now have to design civic facilities and schools with climate change, social injustice, crime rates, and cultural diversity in mind.
-
The Social Responsibility of Architects
Two goals of sustainable design are to eliminate or minimize the negative environmental impact of the built environment and to connect people with the natural environment. The social responsibility of architects lies in part in believing that architecture can create better places, that architecture can affect society, and that it can even have a role in making a place civilized by making a community more livable. Architecture as a social catalyst.
-
The Social Function of Urban Planning
Urban planning can provide territorial justice in the distribution of the benefits of life in cities, where everyone is able to enjoy urbanity. The social role consists precisely of giving coherence to the entire set of diffuse social demands, granting them a visibility that permits action.
-
Community-Engaged Architecture & Design for a Social Change
A lack of interest in critical social issues from a profession that holds great responsibility within a community is a problem that should not be avoided. Architecture can drive social change through community-engaged designs, this can only come to fruition with the support of architects. Designers should keep a record of the quantitative and qualitative impact of their architectural services.
-
Socially Engaged Architecture Projects
Architecture meets social engagement in 5 projects internationally, focusing on under-served communities or offering everyday programming that engages local residents, bridging the gap between design and social engagement.
-
WEF: Designing Inclusive Cities
A discussion of how city planning and urban design can contribute to many social elements of a city, such as education for all, inclusive and safe streets. Specifically relating to SDG 11, "make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable".
Organizations
-
Project Drawdown
Solutions to climate change by sector, including buildings and cities
-
Future Cities
A collaborative platform that harnesses the momentum for change already in progress in cities. Collaborative infrastructure will accelerate innovation to build regenerative, inclusive cities of the future.
-
Bow Crow Design
A holistic approach to the design of small buildings. Produce elegant, functional, healthy, durable, energy-efficient, beautiful and fun buildings that are sensitive to the site and clients’ needs.
-
Battle Lake Design Group
A full-service design firm specializing in the design and development of sustainable residential and smaller-scale mixed-use buildings.
-
Solterre Design
Sustainable high-performance architecture. Residential projects, commercial projects, and green building consulting.
-
CSV Architects
Sustainable high-performance architecture. Residential projects, commercial projects, and green building consulting.
-
Urban Strategies Inc.
Urban planning and consulting. Balances public and private sector work and takes a strategic approach to city building. Integrate planning and design to evolve and transform communities,
-
BNIM
Green and sustainable architecture for public spaces, education buildings, government, residential, etc.
-
Gensler
Climate action through design. Transforming the built environment for a net-zero future. Sees design as a strategy in action, focused on results
-
WRNS Studio
Work on sustainability, pro bono, teaching projects.
-
Stantec
International professional services company in the design and consulting industry. Provides a wide array of services that begin at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Founded in Alberta.
-
C40 Cities
A network of the world’s megacities committed to addressing climate change. C40 supports cities to collaborate effectively, share knowledge and drive meaningful, measurable and sustainable action on climate change.
-
Senakw
A plan to build the “largest net zero carbon residential project in Canada [and] the largest First Nations economic development project in Canadian history”.
Have more resources for us?
This is a library that we are sharing with our entire youth network, and we'd love it if this could be a collaborative library! You might know even more cool resources related to this academic department and it's intersection with sustainability, and if so we'd love if you were willing to share with everyone! If you have any resources you’d like us to add to our library, please shoot us an email using the form below and we will add them ASAP!
