Small Scale, Big Change: Architecture can be a powerful tool for social change By Mark R. Gould An exhibition of eleven contemporary architectural projects—schools, community centers and low cost housing designed to improve the quality of life in underserved communities—is currently on view at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City through Jan. 3, 2011. Small Scale, Big Change: New Architectures of Social Engagement highlights projects on five continents that use architecture as a powerful means for confronting social inequality. The sites include the U.S., Chile, Venezuela, Brazil, France, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Bangladesh and Lebanon. Andres Lepik, curator of contemporary architecture, and Margot Weller, curatorial assistant, organized the exhibit for MoMA. “Architecture can be a powerful instrument to affect social change. On a small scale, a well-designed school can positively influence individual learning and help children to identify themselves as parts of larger community. On a large scale, urban planning that offers not only the basic requirements of housing, transportation, and commerce but also parks, public squares and cultural facilities can increase the quality of life for all inhabitants, bolster civic pride and has a positive impact on a city’s economy. But successful architecture…is far from reaching all segments of global society including large parts of the population that do not even have housing that meets basic needs,” writes Andres Lepik of MoMA. “According to the United Nations, roughly one billion of the world’s population of some 6.75 billion people live in extreme poverty, with an income of less than $150 per year and limited access to clean water, education and health care….The past decade or so has seen a growing number of architects take a new look at the economics of building for the underserved…” Visit your library to obtain more information on this topic. Small Scale, Big Change: New Architectures of Social Engagement Andres Lepik More info at MoMAstore.org »
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Small Scale, Big Change: Architecture can be a powerful tool for social changeBy Mark R. Gould
An exhibition of eleven contemporary architectural projects—schools, community centers and low cost
housing designed to improve the quality of life in underserved communities—is currently on view at
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City through Jan. 3, 2011.
Small Scale, Big Change: New Architectures of Social Engagement highlights projects on five
continents that use architecture as a powerful means for confronting social inequality. The sites
include the U.S., Chile, Venezuela, Brazil, France, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Bangladesh and Lebanon.
Andres Lepik, curator of contemporary architecture, and Margot Weller, curatorial assistant, organized
the exhibit for MoMA.
“Architecture can be a powerful instrument to affect social change. On a small scale, a well-designed
school can positively influence individual learning and help children to identify themselves as parts of
larger community. On a large scale, urban planning that offers not only the basic requirements of
housing, transportation, and commerce but also parks, public squares and cultural facilities can
increase the quality of life for all inhabitants, bolster civic pride and has a positive impact on a city’s
economy. But successful architecture…is far from reaching all segments of global society including
large parts of the population that do not even have housing that meets basic needs,” writes Andres
Lepik of MoMA.
“According to the United Nations, roughly one billion of the world’s population of some 6.75 billion
people live in extreme poverty, with an income of less than $150 per year and limited access to clean
water, education and health care….The past decade or so has seen a growing number of architects
take a new look at the economics of building for the underserved…”
Visit your library to obtain more information on this topic.
Small Scale, Big Change: New Architectures of Social Engagement
Andres Lepik
More info at MoMAstore.org »
Here are descriptions of some of the projects. For more details, visit the MoMa website.