#included.org

Although architecture is a hotbed of douche and woe, and although I have very little respect for the profession as a whole, there are at times small glimpses of what architecture can be, what architecture should be. Unfortunately, what it is and what it shouldn’t be carries the day: vanity projects, exploitation in the name of vision and hubirs, budgets larger than the GDP of a small country, rich folk spending millions on a home they’ll occupy 3 weeks out of the year. But still.

I met Matt Mueller in a hotbed of smog and woe, Beijing, China. We had a light saber battle on the Great Wall- true story. And yet, what he’s doing today is more epic; a testament to how design should be used to better life, not ruin it. Matt is the design director for INCLUDED, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of migrant workers in slum communities throughout the world. 

An explanation of his latest project: Community in a Box:

Small. Simple. Affordable. Felxible. Modular. Shipping Containers. Kit of Parts. What's not to like? Right now, they have a goal of 10k. This money goes towards unit construction, flexible furniture, and operation costs - teacher's salaries etc. With 10 days left, they are roughly half-way there. To put things in persepctive, our office has clients with vanities that have bigger budgets. We are so absurdly blessed spoiled is this country, and if we were step outside our gates, just a little, it would be apparent how far a few USD could go to sigfincantly improve someone's health, well-being, and future. I'm spoiled. You're spoiled. I know. But throw down. It's the best kind of investment.