ARCHITECTURE WITH EMPATHY
Lecture: “Shouldn’t All Architecture Be Designed With Empathy?”
I am inspired to design architecture that is in harmony with the environment, culturally rooted, and tailored to the needs of its users, while always striving for holistic sustainability. Through designing with empathy, awareness, and love for life, we can create spaces and buildings that promote a connection between people and have a positive impact on their surroundings. Empathic design can also play a role in preventing segregation, ensuring that all members of a community feel welcome and included in the spaces we create. Whether a project is small or large, urban or rural, it has the potential to enhance our sense of cultural identity, improve our living conditions, and foster feelings of tranquility and relaxation. Empathy is an essential attribute for architects to possess, cherish, and cultivate, as it enables us to understand the unique needs of our clients and create spaces that truly serve them.
About the Lecturer
Helena Sandman is a practicing architect focusing on empathic design and impactful architecture. She views the role of an architect as a creative mediator and sees architecture as an empowering tool. Helena began her architectural career in Africa two decades ago as a partner at Hollmén Reuter Sandman Architects. Later, the same team co-founded the non-governmental organization Ukumbi (Architecture Sans Frontier, Finland), providing architectural services to needy communities. Hollmén Reuter Sandman’s projects were exhibited at the Venice Architecture Biennale as part of the main exhibition in 2016. In addition, Helena has her private architecture firm and is a founding partner of Leapfrog Projects, a global strategy and design consultancy specializing in complex sustainability initiatives. Currently, she holds a 5-year title of Art Professor from the Arts Promotion Centre Finland.
Helena conducted her doctoral thesis, titled “Empathy Matters: Architecture for the World’s Majority,” as design research on affordable housing and maternal health. This research stemmed from her involvement in the trans-disciplinary New Global research project at Aalto University from 2014 to 2020. Since 2005 she has been teaching architecture, starting as assistant professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and continuing at Aalto University Finland with a period of visiting professor at the BASEHabitat program at the University of Art and Design, Linz, Austria. Since 2009 she has been teaching multidisciplinary student teams engaged in project-based upgrading of informal neighborhoods in Asia and Africa. She is also a regular lecturer and exhibitor at various locations worldwide.
https://www.leapfrogprojects.com/
Pelli Distinguished Lecture
Reception in Temple Buell Hall Atrium beginning at 5:30PM.
Lecture in Temple Buell Hall Plym Auditorium, room 134, at 6PM.