The Contributions of Architects to Post-Conflict (Re)Construction : Social Processes Towards Building Peace

Abstract: Wars and conflicts inevitably result in the destruction of the built-environmentand of communities. This paper explores the potential social contributions of architectsto sustainable peace building in post-conflict reconstruction.Recent discussions about the social impact of architecture insist on the benefitsof involving affected populations in the design and implementation of construction andreconstruction projects. Nevertheless, the humanitarian community often disregards thebuilt-environment reconstruction sector, despite the opportunities it holds to bridge the‘humanitarian-development-peace nexus'. Due to a mutual misunderstanding betweenprofessions, the value of involving architects in humanitarian programmes isoverlooked. In light of Jean-Paul Lederach´s theory of conflict transformation, I suggestthat architecture processes can contribute to sustainable peace via the improvement ofrelationships between middle-range and grassroots leaders as well as within members ofthe grassroots level of affected population. This can take place when the(re)construction planning, design and implementation processes properly take thecultural context into consideration and involve the users.Through the analysis of three diverse examples of post-conflict constructions inRwanda, Colombia and Iraq, involving architects, I will show that they respectfullyinsert their projects in the local context. They involve the local communities in thereconstruction process, collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and consider not onlytechnical but also social and psychosociological aspects of housing. Thereby they cancontribute to the relevancy and sustainability of post-conflict reconstruction projects andsupport holistic approaches to peace building.Finally, I will argue for a greater involvement of architects in the humanitarianfield and call for more comprehensive research on their social contributions, the field ofpeace building and post-war reconstruction.