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Announcing the Open Architecture Collaborative!

United States Architecture News - Mar 11, 2016 - 11:35   6785 views

Announcing the Open Architecture Collaborative!

Architecture for Humanity closed in 2015 because of its bankruptcy but ''nothing about the closure of an organization changes that'' had mentioned Matt Charney in his last letter, Board Chair Architecture for Humanity. ''Please continue to carry out the mission of Architecture for Humanity through your own work and practice.'' had added Charney. Recently, as related to its Chapter Network, Open Architecture Collaborative (OAC) declared itself as a rebrand of Architecture for Humanity with new team members, directors and volunteers. 

Announcing the Open Architecture Collaborative!

The Open Architecture Collaborative is a global network of local grassroots chapters delivering design advocacy, facilitation, assessment and small build services to their local marginalized communities. OAC joined forces as an independant umbrella organization in March of 2016 but their chapters have been in operation since 2005 under the previous name of Architecture for Humanity. OAC is governed by a group of regional leaders and seven board of directors. OAC states that ''we believe in ground up action, fueled by inclusive participation''.

Announcing the Open Architecture Collaborative!

OAC provides resources and guidelines to the local groups so they may better serve their local communities. This library is continually growing and evolving so please do keep an eye out for new tools, documents and events. 

There are 5 types of chapters are meant to strategically grow the capacity of the group including discussion group, assessment team, project delivery, program host and independent organization / affiliate. The activities and objectives are gleaned from 12 years of organizing, volunteer management, project and program execution. As we operate in the open you will notice these are working documents, so please do feel free to comment if you have an insight to add.

In the official announcement, Garrett Jacobs, Executive Director, Open Architecture Collaborative, says that ''our focus is community design, participatory design, and this is an accessible platform people to do community work and build collaborations to redefine what an architecture can be in the 21st Century. Design by definition is change. We are creating a space for everyone who engage.'' 

Watch the official announcement of OAC's video

all images courtesy of OAC

> via Open Architecture Collaborative