William Jr Ti explains:
Why does architecture matter? Do we build for everyone when we create amazing destinations and grand institutions? Why do we constantly put up barriers and restrictions in the name of safety and security? Globalization and rapid urbanization has wrought about a whole new set of situations and problems that requires change in what we build. The rise of megacities, the ubiquity of smartphones and apps, increasing migration numbers, along with the spread of casual information through social media have all changed our daily lives. Throughout history, architecture has been used symbolically to represent power and to exert control. This is apparent in the monumental scale of institutional buildings, such as religious structures and government offices. Architecture has also been used as a display of wealth for different cities and countries, as observed in royal palaces and theater houses. Though this has resulted in centuries, if not millennia, of awe-inspiring structures, this trend in architecture has also created a dissociation between the institutions and the people they serve. The “Bilbao” effect has encouraged the public sector to support and push for bigger and splashier buildings that capture the headlines and our collective attention. This focuses the vast majority of development efforts on the visible and empowered. It neglects the underbelly of society who require public services and facilities the most. Social Architecture in its various forms strives to end this friction and loss of connection by breaking down the institutions, ushering them towards the people—it creates with communities in mind. It is architecture with a social purpose that takes on a scale that is often overlooked by urban planning and politics. It focuses on connecting with people on the ground, engaging the streetscape and activating public spaces. We believe that in the pursuit of social architecture, there is room to investigate this stream of thought. How would architecture be different if it were done without pre-existing bias and tendencies? What would be the strengths and weaknesses of such a philosophy? Is architecture better served by the pursuit of individual identity or social cohesion?We seek to identify the opportunities where we can apply our ideas and change how our institutional infrastructure is built. Social architecture proposes to create a network of localized institutions that are inclusive and barrier-free. Through our own projects, we have abstracted three main aspects. These are: engagement, inclusivity, and locality. All of which, when successfully achieved, creates architecture that operates in the manner of discovery and exploration, and promotes qualities for a gentle and harmonious pace for societal development.