I don’t think we can achieve the change we need without feeling uncomfortable. Change comes with some pain. That is challenging, but the earlier we start, the more time we have to adjust and learn.
Nature is not just death; it is also abundancy. We are given a lot of resources. We need to be sensitive to these resources and use them responsibly. When we go for a holiday, we choose places that have a unique authenticity, where the architecture emerges from a deep understanding of endogenous materials and the local climate that is respectful of human scale. As designers, we have lost the ability to read a place. And the more we lose the understanding of local potentials and resources, the more our designs become random. They also become complex because the choice of materials is unlimited if you go beyond existing resources and local markets. The less we know how to build with whatever we find on a site, the less we come up with solutions that are common sense, solutions that emerge from a deep understanding of a place in terms of materiality and climate.
NK: How do we reverse this globalised worldview? AH: It’s about knowledge. When you are knowledgeable, you have the courage to cross the red line. But we don’t know better and so we are detached from the process. We depend on rules and regulations that are often shaped by lobbies and economic interests. And because it is all so incredibly complex, there is also a lack of responsibility.
The most innovative work comes from a place where the architect, the craftsman and the client work hand-in-hand and everyone takes responsibility. It’s not about liability; it’s about responsibility. The feelings of trust and responsibility have been lost and this keeps us from doing the right thing. And it leaves us with fear. Where is our society and our architecture heading when fear is a constant companion of design?
NK: In your work, you seem deeply interested in the question of social equity in developing countries, an agenda that you pursue through materiality and the craft of making. Why are these ideas so important to where we are today? AH: The two main challenges we have are climate change and social equity. Architecture is a powerful tool to address both. If we add up all the building budgets that run through our hands, by the end of our careers, it could be several millions, maybe even billions of dollars. This is a huge responsibility. Can we design in a way that a big part of this money goes to craftsmen? If I choose concrete or steel, the money is exported to large companies and leaves the community. And so, I use natural materials and human labour, which become a catalyst for development. I am an idealist because the reality isn’t good enough and I want to make a big change. When I’m designing, I multiply every approach and decision by several billion people. If everyone were to take this position, what would the world look like? What kind of material am I using? Will it contribute to social justice? Will it harm the environment? We don’t change the world with a single decision; we change it with many everyday decisions.
NK: What you’ve described is an economic argument, one that asks how money changes hands. How do you bring about change to the flow of capital? AH: It’s important to invest in people. The problem is that we have low taxes on carbon emissions from fossil fuels and high taxes on human labour. This doesn’t make sense. Human labour is also an energy source. It’s not just a social thing. When we talk about alternative energy, we talk about wind, solar, etc. But human energy is also another source and it’s growing. And if we don’t use this source, we end up with social problems.
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