While addressing social and environmental issues, one must note that any such issue is, by nature, interconnected with several others; coming up with effective solutions entails a holistic approach; and thus, the best solutions will be found through an interdisciplinary creative process. Once the general framework of the project is established, we, together with our partners, will complete idea generation, project planning and implementation phases based on the research conducted and data collected in collaboration with participants and experts.
While attempting to improve the well-being of the users, design can produce solutions at different scales to transform spaces and ensure improvement. We are interested in finding out what kind of positive mental effects design can have; in what ways design can contribute to the development of challenging geographies; which methods, measures and production processes can be utilized to reverse environmental damage; how the users can be empowered; and how the economic resources can be made sustainable.
Among these outcomes are the increase in the frequency and negative effects of extreme weather conditions such as drought, floods, tornados and so on; increasing sea levels, increased ocean acidity, and the melting of the glaciers. Such factors put not only plants, animals, and ecosystems but also human beings at serious risk. We have already witnessed the effects of climate change on essential economic fields such as agriculture, food production, energy. Today, it is known that the loss of biodiversity and health problems induced by increasing air pollution levels are directly related to climate change. Such problems reveal the necessity of taking immediate action to reduce and, if possible, reverse the effects of climate change.
Besides its environmental aspect, climate change is a global crisis that can potentially multiply other problems directly affecting people and other living beings. The climate migrations expected may result in a population explosion in some parts of the globe, an increase in environmental pollution, and a decline in life quality. Such problems beg for the development of alternative technologies, solutions and spatial strategies. We humans, as one of the many residents of planet earth, must take action against more frequent natural disasters, food and water scarcity, health problems, and adopt alternative energy systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric temperature.
To minimize the adverse effects of climate change, we need more than ever unconventional production, consumption and construction methods, sustainable systems and materials. Design+Peace invites the creative community to collaborate and find innovative solutions to adapt to the unavoidable impacts of global climate change.
Today, the post-disaster management plans, including the provision of basic needs such as shelter, food and water, still have serious shortcomings and require a systematic approach to achieve flexible solutions that can be applied to different situations. To prevent the loss of lives and significant amounts of resources, we not only need to offer solutions for emergency response during disasters but also proactively determine the measures and steps to minimize the damage and facilitate the reconstruction.
In many parts of the world, people live in poverty and are deprived of their most elementary rights. The consequences of poverty are very significant for children as they have specific and different needs such as adequate nutrition necessary for their physical and mental development. Where children are deprived of a decent standard of living, access to quality health care, education and care, and where they suffer from social exclusion, their future is compromised. As such, women, rural workers and populations, minorities, youth and persons with disabilities of all ages need to be provided with an adequate standard of living, a basic level of income security; thus, reducing levels of poverty and vulnerability.
Despite social protection systems designed to provide the support they need, more work should be done to develop holistic solutions applicable to all of their needs in general. We aim to go beyond the main focus of architecture, which is simply the accommodation, and establish systems and support networks that will improve and sustain the life quality and income security of such communities.
Prolonged wars and climatic changes keep contributing to this massive forced displacement that is likely to be one of the defining challenges of the 21st century. Millions of displaced individuals and families, some of whom are living in the camps in their country of refuge, are deprived of basic human rights such as access to health services, education, proper accommodation, employment, and the right to travel. Despite being home to thousands of people, refugee camps lack self-sustaining systems and protection. Refugees in these camps do not have the opportunity to form a resilient, connected community that provides a sense of belonging.
We believe that the spaces accommodating refugees, immigrants, asylum seekers must be redesigned in a way that serves a function to honor the humanity of their residents. These shelters should not be seen as temporary waiting areas, desolate and secluded regions. Architecture and design possess the capacity to alleviate the trauma inflicted by forced migration, encourage recovery, and create necessary opportunities for people to continue with their lives.
By developing economically and socially sustainable systems for displaced people, we can not only improve the life quality of people through the built environment, but also allow them to obtain the necessary tools for finding solutions.
It is known that lots of people living in different parts of the world suffer from unequal access to education. Particularly for women and people living in poor nations, it is impossible to receive a universal secondary education. To become self-sufficient individuals, job holders, and/or entrepreneurs, such disadvantaged groups and young people must be a part of an inclusive and quality education process and receive occupational and technical training.
In today’s world, where people are more interconnected than ever and mostly live in urban areas, epidemics and other health emergencies pose a serious risk, particularly for people living in metropolitans. Management of global public health crises caused by major pandemics requires responses aimed at meeting both large-scale (urban) and small-scale as well as individual and collective needs.
Designers who aim to develop easily accessible health services and emergency response strategies for both urban and rural areas must consider the eventuality of global pandemics and devise efficient, affordable methods suitable for different regions of the world accordingly.