Good Deeds, Good Design: Community Service Through Architecture

It may come as no surprise that only two percent of new homebuyers work directly with an architect to design the space in which they will live indeed, architects are usually seen as a luxury most of us, the other ninety-eight percent, cant afford.
Yet, why shouldnt more people call on the services of architects? With fierce competition for few commissions, why do architects not seek out other sources of work and income? Now, acting within larger institutions or on their own, many architects are taking local initiatives to address the underserved, particularly the poor. Good Deeds, Good Design presents the best new thoughts and practices in this emerging movement toward an architecture that serves a broader population.In this book, architecture firms, community design centers, design/build programs, and service-based organizations offer their plans for buildings for the other ninety-eight percent. Twenty-eight essays and case studies illustrate successes and failures and raise both design and social issues.
The success of Rural Studio suggests that there is a large and growing number of people who would like to see good design for all. With its clear, direct, and inspiring message, and numerous illustrated examples, Good Deeds, Good Design follows this important story.

Bryan Bell is founder of Design Corps, a nonprofit agency providing architecture to those traditionally underserved by the profession. Design Corps will be included in this year's Cooper Hewitt Inside Design Now exhibition. Bell organizes the Structures fo