Pondering if architecture hurts or heals, with Christian Benimana of MASS Design Group

Sustainability, accessibility, functional efficiency, visual character, singularity in harmony: the deliverables of any architectural entity are many, and justifiably so. But the most fundamental amongst the desiderata is health—physical, mental, social, and subsequently, environmental. The recent COVID-19 pandemic, however, evidently pointed out the structural inadequacies that tarnish our built environments apropos of healing. The question is not whether architecture can heal, but how much it can heal if approached with the right intentionality. Holistic well-being in built spaces bears even more relevance for communities that have been systemically robbed of that agency for eons. Is the built landscape populating our cities and towns all conceived for health? And if not, why?

As architects, I want us to question whether we deserve to produce architecture that is not for health. – Christian Benimana

The UIA World Congress of Architects 2023 in Copenhagen was vivified with such discourses that called for an honest tête à tête. One such conversation that concluded the second day of the event was an insightful keynote by Christian Benimana, Co-Executive Director and Senior Principal of MASS Design Group, along with Maria Neira, Director of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization (WHO). With the session titled How To Tackle (Climate) Health Inequities, the dialogue elucidated the health effects of climate change that continue to impact different regions of the world, especially the Global South. In tandem, the speakers discussed the capability of carefully designed cities to improve health, especially among the disadvantaged populace. Contemplating the theme of the congress ‘Sustainable Futures – Leave No One Behind,’ Benimana tells STIR, “I, unfortunately, feel that we have already left many people behind. I don’t know what we can do now to not leave anyone behind without making the people we have left behind catch up first.”

At the beginning of his keynote, the Rwanda-born architect recalls a moving statement by American lawyer and social justice activist Bryan Stevenson, “The death penalty is not about whether people deserve to die for the crimes they commit. The real question of capital punishment in this country is, do we deserve to kill?” Drawing parallels with this thought, Benimana urges the audience, “As architects, I want us to question whether we deserve to produce architecture that is not for health.” With this, began an assay of his own practice—its different stages and how each seam can be equipped to deliver a promise of architecture of health. “I am resistant to just making it about humans. If we are the leading species on the planet, and we claim that place, then we ought to be responsible for other species as well,” the architect says in a conversation with STIR.

As a global community, the way we have structured aspirations for prosperity is for a lifestyle that cannot be attained without breaking everything. – Christian Benimana

Architecture is never neutral—it heals or it hurts. For Benimana, architecture that caters to health is free from despair. With this thought, he moves on to explain the evolution of the Africa Leadership University (ALU), a project by MASS Design Group aiming to encourage education in Sub-saharan Africa where only 8 to 10 per cent of people enroll in universities. ALU asks the enrolled students to declare a mission as opposed to selecting a major—aiming to create future leaders. The modular design that is perched on the 10-hectare site in Kigali is a reflection of a unique learning cycle housing dedicated spaces for self, peer, and facilitated learning—culminating in a campus that promotes discovery. Each element is crafted specifically for the context—physical, social, and environmental. “Everything has to be contextualised. Unfortunately, for many communities, this agency is not there and we are reluctant to give it to them,” the architect shares with STIR.

Beyond its physical and mental facets, health is social. Ergo, built environments that claim to ‘heal’ ought to address social epidemics and trauma. Benimana segued into the analysis of two projects that rest on the foundation of these intentions. The Gun Violence Memorial Project is contrived as a space of remembrance and healing for victims of gun violence. In lieu of reducing the victims to mere statistics, it provided an opportunity to recognise a collective loss that looms over society—setting in motion a healing process. The National Museum for Peace and Justice reiterates a need for spaces of memorial and subsequently, reflection. The Alabama-based initiative provides a platform for discussions that are often brushed under the carpet—laying bare a tumultuous history of slavery, oppression and injustice. Whether it is a glass brick symbolising a lost life or suspended steel monuments annunciating racial terror, these environments entail a confrontation with the discomfort of harsh realities; yet, they emerge as beacons of hope.

As a global community, the way we have structured aspirations for prosperity is for a lifestyle that cannot be attained without breaking everything. – Christian Benimana

Benimana concluded his presentation by broaching environmental health with respect to the climate crisis, this time citing the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA) in Gashora, Rwanda. He stressed the concept of ‘One Health’: a principle that iterates that human, animal, and ecological health are inextricably intertwined. This belief alongside the fundamentals of conservation agriculture informs the conception and the materialisation of the campus and the curriculum—taking an interdisciplinary, experiential approach to learning, with a campus that promotes biodiversity, ecological conservation, and community participation. “RICA will be the first climate-positive campus of its kind. Our efforts in design blur the lines between environmentalist, engineer, horticulture, designer, architect, educator, and contractor to really try to construct a unique agriculture model,” he explains in his keynote.

An interesting and essential juxtaposition of perspectives came forth in the dialogue between an architect representing his community from the Global South and a representative of the public health community. Neira, for her segment of the presentation, ushered the audience from one staggering statistic to another—each highlighting the precipice humanity faces in terms of the environmental crisis. She further implored the community of architects—who she addresses as the “ministers of health”—to maintain a fluid exchange of thoughts with the public health sector and work closely with them. 

Neira named three transitions that can plausibly culminate in countless health benefits: "transition to renewable sources of energy, sustainable food systems and healthy urban planning.” But as much as these pillars are “common sense,” are the communities equipped with the skills to manoeuvre into this rather complex territory? Why are these changes deferred if they are, in fact, “common sense”? To this Benimana comments, “There are market forces and processes we have created and have been accustomed to that we are not willing to let go. They are in the way of making that transition happen—or happen fast enough.” He points out how the systems of operations that allow said transitions are foreign to many communities in the Global South. Calling for resetting the tone, Benimana proposes working backward from the objective which is health, as opposed to navigating within the given constraints of a project and contriving a “reasonable” solution. 

As a global community, the way we have structured aspirations for prosperity is for a lifestyle that cannot be attained without breaking everything. – Christian Benimana

The discourse then investigates extant narratives, and how they need amendments not just in individual perceptions, but on levels of legislation. But is changing narratives enough with the aspirations we have created as a society? Benimana uses this cue to open up an honest—and slightly radical—conversation: climate change is not the most pressing issue of the world today. Many communities have lived with the effects and consequences of climate change for decades; it is a problem new only to the privileged. “As a global community, the way we have structured aspirations for prosperity is for a lifestyle that cannot be attained without breaking everything,” the architect points out. Unless communities are ready to let go of a lifestyle fueled by colossal amounts of energy, the market forces are incredibly difficult to alter. “I insist that we must have an honest conversation about what problem we are trying to solve; and that problem, as far as I am concerned, is inequity and injustice,” Benimana asserts.

Through the various seams of health that were unearthed through the fluid back and forth of thoughts and opinions, what was achieved was a holistic view of health that takes into account not one but diverse perspectives. The discussion highlighted how the transition to healthier alternatives and sustainable architecture for low, medium and high-income countries bear no semblance to each other—all the while bringing forth the established cycles of demand and supply which most projects succumb to. The powerful keynote concludes with a message from Benimana to the architecture community to reimagine their practice and question the default frameworks. Why is architecture practiced and for whom? And is comfort and convenience a good enough excuse to compromise on sustainability? Manoeuvring the need for contextualisation and designing for needs, Benimana ends with a strong note: “We have to pay attention to what is the problem they are trying to solve; and if we find they are trying to solve the wrong problem, I don’t think we should engage in that project.”

The UIA World Congress 2023 programme featured talks, panel discussions, and presentations by influential and innovative creative practices. STIR as an official Media Partner brings you the highlights of the congress through a series of interviews, visits, and conversations.