Atekpe, Felicity;
(2025)
Frames and Lenses: Architecture as a Political Act of Care.
Presented at: AZA Architecture Conference 2025 (AZA2025), Johannesburg, South Africa.
Preview |
Slideshow
FA_Frames & Lens Aug 2025.pdf - Published Version Download (9MB) | Preview |
Abstract
This keynote redefines architecture not merely as the design of buildings, but as a proactive political act rooted in the ethic of Care—defined as the "attention and notice" given to people, nature, and things. Challenging the foundational assertion that "some lives matter less," the address argues that architecture must engage directly with the social and political structures that construct space and perpetuate inequity. The imperative is to shift the discipline toward a proactive, restorative approach to public policy, focused rigorously on equity and social justice. This requires breaking down binary constructs, such as the urban/rural divide, and embracing a holistic worldview. Policy reform must treat race as a fundamental social policy issue, moving beyond tokenistic representation to enforce equality of opportunity enshrined in law. Architectural education must be fundamentally reformed through this lens of Care. Sustainability, which encompasses climate and ecological emergencies, is identified as a threshold concept demanding a pedagogical shift from a mentality of abundance to one of scarcity. Furthermore, empirical research is presented, demonstrating that 98-99% of architectural vocabulary is Eurocentric, confirming the coloniality of the discipline’s epistemologies. Correcting this requires challenging disciplinary narratives and fostering equitable knowledge creation. The architect’s role expands to encompass fifteen diverse responsibilities—including that of sociologist, psychologist, and lawyer—necessitating immersion in the lives of others and providing a witness to them. Ultimately, this critical architecture of care aims to utilise the built environment to “make clearly visible to us what we can ideally be”.
| Type: | Conference item (Presentation) |
|---|---|
| Title: | Frames and Lenses: Architecture as a Political Act of Care |
| Event: | AZA Architecture Conference 2025 (AZA2025) |
| Location: | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Dates: | 29 - 31 August 2025 |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Publisher version: | https://architectureza.org.za/ |
| Language: | English |
| Keywords: | Politics of Care, Sustainability, Equity and Equality |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment > The Bartlett School of Architecture |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10217595 |
Archive Staff Only
 |
View Item |
