How might we connect architects to social impact institutions in need of renovation in order to co-create a valuable experience and better spaces?
There are many non-profit institutions that could help many people with better and appropriate infrastructure. However, they cannot afford the cost of an architect and we do believe that a professional project can help them understand the potential of their space, plan how to besttransform it and be more effective. The ultimate goal of projeto do bem. is to find committedarchitects that would donate a project for an institution from our platform.
The project was created after almost a year of conceptual development and we are so proud of each step we take. Since it`s launching in August 10th 2016, six projects have been delivered and there is much more to come.
We joined "Encontro de ONGs", an event realized by Atados - one of the greatest social platforms inBrazil for volunteers and non-profit institutions - which brought together some non-profit institutionsto discuss improvements in NGOs structures.
More at www.facebook.com/projetodobem.org/
ROLE
Co-founder, Strategy, Graphic Design
TEAM
Thatiana Pacheco
RESEARCH
Both Tatiana and I have been involved with somenon-profit organizations in Brazil. At some point, werealized that most of them were in precarious conditions and at the same time, their demand only increase more and more.
We realized that most of them depends mostly from private investors since the government doesn’t provide the necessary resources. Then with the funds they get, it is all destined to support their main causes.
IDEATION
We interviewed some architects and engineers, and saw that there was a tremendous interest from their part in donating a project to an institution that they relate with. That is how projeto do bem. wascreated. We developed a platform where architects could find some projects to be adopted, such as a study room at Sementes do Amanhã, a non-profit that offers recreational programs in a low-income community to prevent children to be on the streets.
IMPLEMENTATION
The magic of this project was not only to find out that there are many more people willing to support causes than we believe, but actually, understanding that by translating technical terms into non-profits daily language is essential and then, we co-creating an architectural project that attends their needs and is financially viable.
OUTCOMES & SCALE
Our first project was highly important to shapeours and their perspective. After the renovation, they realized that having a well-designed project can makes a space much more effective and consequently, support more children. And we understood that sometimes people do not think on creative solutions simply because is not part of their priorities, if introduced in a bottom-up engaging and collaborative way, they can be extremely open to innovation.
In a scale, we engaged with many non-profits and architects in São Paulo, Brazil. In the future, the goal is to make this project expand to our country, and possibly, have partners that believe in the power of spaces that heal and transform.