Social Equity in Architecture

TEDx Talk by Mark Raymond: Innovative Architecture to Ensure Social Equity

http://www.style-detroit.com/2012/03/tedxportofspain-mark-raymond-innovative.html

In this talk, Raymond discusses the idea that architecture can be implemented in such a way as to affect the community around it.  This isn't an uncommon concept, but it is one that I feel can often be taken for granted.  Raymond suggests that we use this to promote positive social change, however slightly, as a way of bringing people together.

Social Equity and Sustainable Design

http://halbolton.wordpress.com/2011/11/18/social-equity-and-sustainable-design/

In this blogpost, Hal Bolton brings up the concept of the "Triple Bottom Line" (i.e. people, profit, and planet) and reflects on what it means to be sustainable.  

"How do we love all children of all species for all time?"  -William McDonough

How can Cities Ensure Social Equity While Promoting New Development at the same Time?

http://dusp.mit.edu/epp/news/how-can-cities-ensure-social-equity-while-promoting-new-development-same-time

In this short description of a thesis by Amanda Martin, it is pointed out that often new development is expected to help support local economies, but more often than not it does little or nothing to help low-income areas.  She suggests that cities adapt the "sustainability" mantra to include social equity, and use new development projects to spur economic, health, and transportation needs of low-income communities as well.  When planning for sustainability, community development organizations must research issues and align development impacts to alleviate these problems.  She states the unlikelihood of "sustainability" helping improve broader ranges of people and space without a directed effort.  

"What gets measured gets done."

Universal Design Education

http://www.udeducation.org/resources/64.html

Building for People

http://www.buildinggreen.com/auth/article.cfm/2009/9/25/Building-for-People-Integrating-Social-Justice-into-Green-Design/

Incorporating social justice into the design process may seem like one more item on an already lengthy to-do list, but the reality is that most projects already involve social components. Accomplishing social justice isn’t a matter of changing everything about a design but rather adjusting the way we look at the design decisions we make.