As a non-profit organization our mission is to reduce inequality by providing access to high-quality planning and architecture services in emerging communities across the globe. We promote sustainable community development by employing a community-centric, collaborative methodology of research and design thinking, to problem solve and develop resilient solutions in partnership with the organizations and communities we serve.
We envisage a global network of resilient communities. To achieve this goal we must work to reduce vulnerabilities to chronic stresses and external shocks. Our path to aiding the design of resilient communities is through community participation, resiliency planning, and sustainable architecture.
Low income communities in emerging and developed markets typically do not have access to high quality, affordable design, and planning services. Oftentimes when design services are available, they neglect to include the local community, and an understanding of its context.
According to the United Nations, “The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice.” The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlight the disparities we are working to address. We believe that everyone deserves access to thoughtfully designed and dignified spaces.
We help underserved communities build resiliency and local development by offering quality and affordable services that challenge top-down approaches.
The involvement of local knowledge and experts in project design and implementation shapes our work, while local citizens and stakeholders gain a sense of ownership and dignification. We are committed to producing meaningful interventions that serve the community’s needs.
We research and engage with the local environment and community. In order to provide design, we must understand where we are designing and who we are designing for.
We build resiliency by tackling the structural causes of a communities’ s vulnerability. We consider a systemic approach to address chronic stresses such as unemployment, poor social infrastructure, and the lack of access to basic services.
We include sustainable approaches and resiliency planning in the design and implementation of social infrastructure. We aim to build adaptive and strong responses to protect against natural disasters and external shocks.
Adaptiv’s model encourages collaboration and strategic partnerships with similar-minded entities and community stakeholders to leverage skill sets and optimize our reach. At the heart of our work is community involvement and capacity building. By partnering with local professionals and organizations we are creating a two-way knowledge transfer and ensuring projects are locally rooted and set up for success.
