Innovative Designer and Humanitarian Wins Award

Furniture World Magazine

Cameron Sinclair, founder and director of Architecture for Humanity has been awarded the Ekornes Innovator Award for his work. Representing a new breed of architect, Sinclair seeks to change the conditions of the poor, the sick, and the needy by sponsoring an annual contest for architects to design buildings that address a global, social and humanitarian crisis. In 2001, Architecture for Humanity inspired over 250 architects from 30 countries to design transitional housing for refugees. The concept was so revolutionary; Sinclair was surprised to learn from representatives at the United Nations that no one else in the world was addressing the problem of temporary housing for refugees in the aftermath of September 11. This year, competing architects from around the world are creating designs for fully equipped mobile HIV/AIDS healthcare units for use in Africa. As recent reports have shown, the AIDS crisis in Africa is escalating at an alarming rate. Again, no unifying organization is tackling the problem of care and prevention – especially in rural areas where modern healthcare facilities are scant "I strongly believe that architecture can make a difference. We have the opportunity to act, as a profession. Through innovative design, we can help doctors in the field save lives," said Sinclair. In addition to raising awareness globally, Sinclair and his team hope that a prototype of the selected entry will be used in Sub-Saharan Africa and eventually adapted for other regions of the world. Design entries for the HIV/AIDS mobile care unit must be postmarked no later than November 1, 2002. Anyone is welcome to submit a design. Architecture for Humanity is also accepting donations to help build a prototype of the winning entry. See website, ArchitectureForHumanity.org for details. A panel of international architects and HIV/AIDS specialists will judge entries. Winners will be announced on World AIDS Day (December 1, 2002) at an exhibit of the designs. Ekornes is the leading manufacturer sofas and chairs in Scandinavia, with offices in New Jersey to serve the U.S. market. The 68-year-old company is famous for its innovative Stressless recliners and Ekornes Collection line of sofas and chairs. The Ekornes Innovator Award was launched in 2001 to recognize outstanding people who have changed the world for the better. Four awards will be given this year.