Dear all,
Each day our clients remind us that for more than 5 billion people, sustainable design is not a luxury. It is a matter of survival. This is architecture at its best. In 2007 no one exemplified the power of design to uplift and inspire better than Architecture for Humanity’s hundreds of volunteers, local chapters and design fellows.

In the past year, we completed on our 100th project-compared with just 7 two years ago, more than 14,000 people directly benefited from built solutions and we provided professional design services on four continents, with over 250 volunteers, designers and architects. In short, we have taken our mission to a new scale.

There has never been a greater need for accessible, sustainable design. I've been inspired by the creativity and innovation of our 47 chapters, by the involvement and innovative projects we see on the new Open Architecture Network, and by the feedback and ongoing support we find from people like you, who share our belief that good design matters.

Every year I write an annual Boxing Day Year in Review newsletter but last year was such an incredible year for us this letter would have been exhaustive to read in your email box (for those who don't get our newsletter, you can sign up in the top right hand corner). Therefore, we are taking advantage of our spiffy new site by posting it here. There is also not the space to individually thank all of those who have helped enable localized architectural solutions, so to you all – Thank You.

Click here to read our 2007 Year in Review.

In the coming year we have a number of exciting projects to be realized, new initiatives including scaling one of our previous design competitions on a continent wide level, ‘open sourcing’ our own office space, new Architecture for Humanity and chapter focused websites and the construction of the winning design for the AMD Open Architecture Challenge. With a ramp up in work we have a number of full time job opportunities, as well as some international design fellowships. All can be found on the Job Opportunities and Volunteer Opportunities pages.

Buildings not only have a physical footprint, they have an ethical footprint.

For us sustainability is about more than building green. We think about how a building will affect the environment, how it will improve the lives and livelihoods of its occupants, and its impact on future generations, including its vulnerability to future disaster. In the past year we’ve used recycled clay bean curd pots used as insulation and sound attenuation in a community center designed by Susi Platt in Sri Lanka. Community members have learned new construction skills and earned income by building schools and community facilities in the wake of the Tsunami. MC2 Architects from Houston, Texas designed diagonally laid sub-flooring in a new home for a family displaced by Hurricane Katrina, providing lateral strength to protect the house from future hurricanes. All in all almost every one of our structures think beyond the environmental footprint and have an ethical footprint that aims to improve the way we live in the world.

On behalf of the communities we serve and the architects and designers who volunteer their time and their talents with us, we appreciate your support and hope you will join us in an exciting year ahead. Help us bring innovative design to communities in need and think about making an end of year donation.

Cheers,
Cameron Sinclair and the Architecture for Humanity crew.