By Celsias
Posted on July 21, 2011. Listed in:
Cameron Sinclair , co-founder and CEO of Architecture for Humanity will give a free public lecture in Christchurch on Thursday 28th July at CPIT (DL Lecture Theatre)at 7.30pm
Cameron is as he puts it, ‘Chief Eternal Optimist’) of Architecture for Humanity, a charitable organisation that seeks architectural solutions to humanitarian crisis and brings professional design services to communities in need.
Sinclair trained as an architect at the University of Westminster and at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London. His postgraduate thesis focused on providing shelter to New York's homeless through sustainable, transitional housing. In 1999 Sinclair and Kate Stohr founded Architecture for Humanity and over the past decade the organisation has worked in 26 countries on projects ranging from school, health clinics, affordable housing and long term sustainable reconstruction. In 2006, Sinclair and Stohr compiled a bestselling book ‘Design Like You Give A Damn: Architectural Responses to Humanitarian Crises’ and are currently working on a second volume.
Sinclair is the recipient of numerous awards including the 2006 TED Prize, and was recently selected as a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. As a result of the 2006 TED Prize, Architecture for Humanity launched the Open Architecture Network, the world's first open source community dedicated to improving living conditions through innovative and sustainable design. Every two years this network hosts a global challenge to tackle a systemic issue within the built environment.
Bringing socially relevant building into academia is one of Sinclair’s passions, so he lectures regularly at architecture schools and universities in the United States and abroad, and has spoken at a number of international business and design conferences on sustainable development and post disaster reconstruction. Sinclair is The University of Auckland School of Architecture and Planning International Architect-in-Residence for 2011.
The local chapter of Architecture for Humanity is currently working with Christchurch high school Unlimited Paenga Tawhiti for the design of their new premises. The design studio Sinclair is teaching at the University of Auckland also focuses on this design, and while in Christchurch Sinclair will be helping lead this project.
The Warren Trust, GIB, and The Block Foundation have supported the University of Auckland School of Architecture and Planning International Architect-in-Residence programme and Sinclair’s visit to Christchurch has received additional support from the NZIA Canterbury Branch and CPIT.
For those of you haven't heard Sinclair speak - he spoke at the recent Christchurch TED event , he is well worth hearing . He will be in the DL Lecture Theatre, Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT). Its in Madras St, and entry is off the D Block Quad. Seating is limited.
