“Architects mainly work for privileged people, people who have money and power. I am interested in working for the less privileged because it is more rewarding.”
– Shigeru Ban
Imagine losing your home to a disaster or living in a place without safe shelter. Now, picture architects designing buildings that don’t just look good but actually save lives. That’s the power of humanitarian architecture—creating spaces that provide safety, dignity, and hope to people in need. From disaster relief shelters to schools in remote villages, this type of architecture focuses on solving real-world problems. In this article, we’ll explore how architects are using their skills to build a better future for communities around the world.
What is Humanitarian Architecture?
Humanitarian architecture is about designing spaces that solve urgent human problems—whether it’s disaster relief, poverty, conflict, or disease. It focuses on providing shelter, warmth, clean water, and a safe place for families and communities to rebuild their lives.
There are three key stages in humanitarian architecture:
- Emergency Relief – Rapid response shelters to protect people from extreme weather and life-threatening conditions.
- Mid-Term Relief – Transitional housing that provides stability but isn’t a long-term solution.
- Reconstruction – Building permanent homes and infrastructure to support long-term recovery.
But it’s not just about buildings. Thoughtful design can improve education, boost the local economy, and enhance community well-being. However, it comes with challenges—limited resources, remote locations, and harsh climates make the work difficult.
Despite the obstacles, humanitarian architecture is deeply rewarding. It creates more than just shelters—it sparks lasting change and helps communities regain independence, ensuring a better future long after the crisis has passed.
Characteristics of Humanitarian Architecture
- Involves the Community
The best humanitarian projects don’t just build for the community—they build with the community. Locals are involved from the start, ensuring the design meets their real needs, not just what outsiders think they need. This approach:
- Gives people a sense of ownership and pride.
- Encourages teamwork and goal setting.
- Ensures the project is well-maintained for years.
- Provides valuable construction skills, especially for underrepresented groups like women.
When the community is engaged, the project becomes more than just a building—it becomes a symbol of empowerment and progress.
2. Uses Local Materials & Labour
Sourcing materials and labour locally makes the project more affordable, sustainable, and impactful. It:
- Reduces costs since materials are readily available.
- Supports the local economy by providing jobs and training.
- Teaches new skills, ensuring people can build their own homes in the future.
It follows the principle: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” By using local resources, humanitarian architecture doesn’t just provide shelter—it builds self-reliant communities.
3. Focuses on Long-Term Impact
A truly successful project doesn’t just solve an immediate crisis—it creates lasting change. By involving communities, teaching skills, and using sustainable methods, these projects:
- Improve education, health, and economic opportunities.
- Reduce dependency on external aid.
- Ensure people have the knowledge and resources to rebuild and maintain their own spaces.
Humanitarian architecture isn’t just about buildings—it’s about building better futures.
Remarkable Humanitarian Architecture Projects
- Emergency Shelters for Refugees (Turkey) – IKEA Foundation & UNHCR
After the devastating 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, thousands were left without homes in freezing conditions. To help, the IKEA Foundation and Better Shelter provided 5,000 modular emergency shelters, offering families safety, warmth, and dignity.
Each unit includes a lockable door and solar-powered lamp, ensuring security and comfort. More than just shelter, this initiative gives displaced families a place to rebuild their lives with hope.
2. Paper Log Houses (Kobe, Japan) – Shigeru Ban
After the 1995 Kobe earthquake, architect Shigeru Ban designed Paper Log Houses as quick, low-cost shelters for displaced families. Built with paper tube walls, beer crate foundations, and tent roofs, these homes were easy to assemble, affordable, and environmentally friendly.
More than just shelters, they restored dignity and community to survivors. The recyclable materials made them sustainable, and their simple construction allowed locals to participate in rebuilding. Ban’s approach proved that innovative, human-centred design can bring hope in times of crisis.
3. Makoko Floating School (Nigeria) – NLÉ Works
The Makoko Floating School in Nigeria, designed by NLÉ Architects, provided a flood-resistant learning space for the water-based Makoko community. Built on recycled plastic barrels, its A-frame structure used local wood and adapted to rising water levels, ensuring safe education for children.
More than a school, it empowered locals by using local materials and labour. Though it collapsed in 2016, it sparked global discussions on climate-resilient design and inspired similar floating structures worldwide.
4. Safe Haven Library (Thailand) – TYIN Tegnestue Architects
The Safe Haven Library in Ban Tha Song Yang, Thailand, was designed by TYIN Tegnestue Architects in 2009 with the help of 15 Norwegian architecture students. Built in just two weeks, it used locally sourced materials—a stone-supported concrete base, bamboo walls for ventilation, and an ironwood framework doubling as a floor for children.
More than a library, it became a community hub for reading, learning, and socializing. Its thoughtful design included floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and adaptable open spaces, fostering a sense of pride and ownership among the children.
5. Gando Primary School (Burkina Faso) – Francis Kéré
The Gando Primary School in Burkina Faso, designed by Francis Kéré, was built using locally made clay bricks to keep classrooms cool naturally. The elevated roof improves ventilation, reducing the need for artificial cooling.
This project not only provided education but also empowered the local community by involving them in construction, creating jobs, and teaching skills. Its success led to further expansions, proving the power of sustainable, community-driven design.
The Role of Architects in Humanitarian Efforts
Architects play a vital role in addressing global crises by designing spaces that provide safety, dignity, and hope. Working alongside NGOs, governments, and local communities, they create disaster relief housing, schools, healthcare centres, and public spaces that improve lives. As “Shelter Specialists,” architects ensure people have secure and functional environments, even in the most challenging conditions.
But as architect Diébédo Francis Kéré says, “When you have nothing and you want to convince your community to believe in an idea, it may happen that everybody starts working with you, but you need to keep fighting to convince them.” This highlights the perseverance needed to bring meaningful change. By combining innovative design with local knowledge, architects help build a more equitable and sustainable world.
Challenges and the Way Forward
Despite its noble intentions, humanitarian architecture faces several challenges, including funding constraints, logistical difficulties, and political barriers. However, advancements in technology, material innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration are helping overcome these obstacles. The future of humanitarian architecture lies in integrating digital tools like BIM (Building Information Modelling), AI-driven planning, and sustainable construction methods to create more efficient and impactful solutions.
Building a Future of Hope
Humanitarian architecture is a way to help people facing some of the world’s toughest challenges. By designing with care, sustainability, and inclusivity, architects can create spaces that truly improve lives. It’s not just about building, it’s about supporting communities, strengthening resilience, and bringing hope. As this field grows, it has the power to change entire neighborhoods, giving people safer, stronger, and more dignified places to live.
Havard Citations:
- Online Sources
- Saija Hollmén (2023) Humanitarian architecture – what does it mean?, Aalto University. Available at: https://www.aalto.fi/en/wit-programme/humanitarian-architecture-what-does-it-mean (Accessed: 08 February 2025).
- (2020) 3 characteristics of successful humanitarian architecture, YR Architecture + Design. Available at: https://yr-architecture.com/characteristics-of-successful-humanitarian-architecture/ (Accessed: 08 February 2025).
- (2023) IKEA Foundation and Better Shelter Partner to bring relief in Türkiye and Syria, Better Shelter. Available at: https://bettershelter.org/ikea-foundation-and-better-shelter-partner-to-bring-relief-in-turkiye-and-syria/ (Accessed: 08 February 2025).
- Paper Log House – Kobe, Shigeru Ban Architects. Available at: https://shigerubanarchitects.com/works/paper-tubes/paper-log-house-kobe/ (Accessed: 08 February 2025).
- Spoorthi Nagaraj (2021) Paper log houses by Shigeru Ban: Recyclable materials and Architecture Paper Log Houses by Shigeru Ban: Recyclable materials and architecture, RTF | Rethinking the Future. Available at: https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/case-studies/a4922-paper-log-houses-by-shigeru-ban-recyclable-materials-and-architecture/ (Accessed: 08 February 2025).
- MFS I – Makoko Floating School: Lagos, Nigeria: 2011, NLÉ Works. Available at: https://nleworks.com/case/makoko-floating-school/ (Accessed: 08 February 2025).
- Makoko Floating School: Nlé works, Archello. Available at: https://archello.com/project/makoko-floating-school (Accessed: 08 February 2025).
- (2009) Safe Haven Library / Tyin Tegnestue, ArchDaily. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/30764/safe-haven-library-tyin-tegnestue (Accessed: 08 February 2025).
- Gando Primary School, Kéré Architecture. Available at: https://www.kerearchitecture.com/work/building/gando-primary-school-3 (Accessed: 08 February 2025).
- (2016) Gando Primary School / Kéré Architecture, ArchDaily. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/785955/primary-school-in-gando-kere-architecture (Accessed: 08 February 2025).
- Bianca Valentina Roșescu (2022) In times of need: Architects stepping up in Humanitarian Crisis, ArchDaily. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/987475/in-times-of-need-architects-stepping-up-in-humanitarian-crisis (Accessed: 08 February 2025).
- Books
- Shigeru Ban (2014) Shigeru Ban: Humanitarian architecture. Aspen, CO, New York: Aspen Art Museum; D.A.P./Distributed Art Publishers.
