Architecture for SDGs: 1) No Poverty 2) Zero hunger 3) Well-being
- Ahmed Abouaiana
- Jan 7
- 4 min read
In a previous blog post, we agreed that Conscious Architect can Achieve Sustainability if your designs consider the environment and achieve social and economic impacts. But what is Sustainable Development? How can architecture achieve it? Why should we focus on Sustainable Development rather than only Sustainability?
"Sustainable development is how we must live today if we want a better tomorrow, by meeting present needs without compromising the chances of future generations to meet their needs." United Nations. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 goals adopted by the UN in 2015, which aim to eradicate poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030.
Each goal comprises targets and actions (to measure the progress towards SDGs); you can find these definitions at the following link: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
As we agreed, there are no complex terms. You have an architectural mindset. You can analyze the keywords then to understand the terms. When we design, we want to maximize the benefits from our designs and extend their impacts beyond achieving the users' needs.
So, you can find a certain goal to fulfill, but you can achieve many objectives.
In this article, you can explore how architecture can support SGDs. Then you can decide what to do.
Let's get started
SDG1: No Poverty
Can architecture provide social protection for the poor and vulnerable, including the homeless, enhance access to essential services (such as healthcare and education), and support those affected by extreme climate events?
Do you think using local materials for housing in low-income areas can reduce poverty, boost local economies, and provide safe, affordable homes?
I give you a brilliant example: the pioneer architect Hassan Fathy designed houses and a village (in collaboration with the local community)using local materials. One of his design approaches was to create an artificial lake with clean filtered water to create pleasant places for people (he said for the poor) and to save them from swimming in unclean water bodies. He also constructed buildings, so he employed local materials, engineering-based, and architectural solutions to provide affordable ones.
You can empower individuals to upgrade their homes, increase their equity, and take advantage of opportunities to escape the cycle of poverty. You can also increase the accessibility to green areas or in-between spaces (courtyards, playgrounds, etc.).
Designing homes for people with less money to invest in them requires architects to experiment with typologies and solutions that are decent, affordable, and can be built without expensive tools or materials. Also, you have to think about how all the community segments will benefit, like elderlies and children.
You can also promote multifunction land use (add another activity to the building). For example, in your university or in a social building in your district, after working hours, provide additional activities to serve the community and create economic opportunities (yoga classes, etc.). This could promote job opportunities for people who need money
Good examples for No Poverty:
1) Goharkhatoon Girl School : https://round-city.com/interview-designing-developments-for-vulnerable-communities-with-yasaman-esmaili/
3) Volontariat Homes for Homeless Children: https://anupamakundoo.com/portfolio-item/volontariat/
SDG2: Zero Hunger
You can tackle the hunger in your design (10% of the population will be in a state of persistent hunger). Integrating agriculture practices into your design can improve thermal performance and harvest food (vegetables and fruit).
Do you know that agricultural land worldwide decreases yearly because some need to construct buildings and homes or because of climate change, heat waves, or other issues? So, you can help to support Land by using systems like (hydroponic systems) without soil. Or you can have a simple solution like putting tables on the roof and some light plantation boxes to eat from.
You can protect ecosystems (ecosystem= https://g.co/kgs/MG78CGT) and increase food production.
Have you heard about urban farming? or urban agriculture? You can incorporate green roofs or green walls by planting tomatoes, potatoes,... to eat or to sell and gain money, or you can give it to poor people, you can offer job opportunities to poor people (It achieves SDG1, right?).Also, you can improve the thermal performance of the building.
Stop and think: How can you incorporate food production into your design?
Examples of Architecture for Zero Hunger:
SDG3: Good Health and well-being
What is well-being? Well-being is people’s happiness, health, education.
Do you remember the thermal comfort? How to design for people's health: this is the concept. If people stay in a home without good ventilation or daylight for long periods, surly they will face many health problems. So, if you design to increase fresh air, green areas, and daylighting, you support SDG 3.
The designer employed a design solution (double facade) in the following building to purify the air. So the designer decided to improve the air quality to make people healthier. Also, to improve the thermal performance of the building.
The following building is in Brussels (Cold Climate), the designer maximize the transparent area of the office building to harvest daylight, which is in turn improves people health and increase productivity.
A good example of reduced mortality the maternity Waiting Village:
In the following blog posts, I will present the remaining SGDs. To that date, please remember that I have only highlighted some features and tried to assist you with some keywords, but I am sure you are an excellent architectural student and can do your homework and find more innovative solutions.
Dr. Ahmed Abouaiana, January 05, 2025
Thank you