How the power of collaboration can turbo-charge a project for architects and help communities

How do Article 25 engage with local talent?

The practice operates where they are most needed and Gemma says it would never just parachute in a team from the UK to carry out a project, instead mindful of whether there is local expertise that can design and deliver the scheme of the right scale and quality. In fact, if there are skills and resources already in place locally, Article 25 will not take a project on.

“There is no point in a British NGO going in to deliver something if that is taking away the livelihood or income from a local architectural firm,” Gemma says. “There have been instances where we’ve tendered for a project, seen who we are up against and thought, ‘well, you could do that, so we will withdraw’.”

Instead, the practice will always recruit a local onsite architect where they can and will partner with local engineers where they are available.

On large technical projects like hospitals the practice will call upon its roster of engineering supporters for advice and consultancy. It counts heavyweight engineers such as Ramboll and WSP among the firms it has worked with and firms like SOM and Ridge lend their expertise.

What are Article 25’s key principles of engagement?

Having access to local knowledge and expertise is really important, says Gemma, and can pay huge dividends in achieving sustainability. The London team will usually be learning from local practices, she adds.

The award-winning College Amadou Hampâté Bâ, for instance, is built with laterite, a stone-like material made from hand-excavated soil left in the sun to cure. Sourced from a nearby site, it has negligible embodied carbon but has sufficient thermal mass to temper heat build-up internally.

This level of collaboration both at home and at the location of the project is vitally important.

Support Article 25

Architects can support Article 25 directly through its More Than a Building membership scheme. Sponsoring practices will see their contributions making a real difference by helping to build hospitals, schools and homes in places that need them most.

Member benefits include regular networking events, communications and PR opportunities, and access to free training and CPD that can help practices meet their environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments.

There are also occasional secondment opportunities for architects to work on impactful international projects.

To find out more and get involved, email Gemma.