Altruism

Altruism is when we act to promote someone else’s welfare, even at a risk or cost to
ourselves. Though some believe that humans are fundamentally self-interested, recent research
suggests otherwise: Studies have found that people’s first impulse is to cooperate rather than
compete; that toddlers spontaneously help people in need out of a genuine concern for their
welfare; and that even non-human primates display altruism.

Evolutionary scientists speculate that altruism has such deep roots in human nature
because helping and cooperation promote the survival of our species. It is argued that altruism,
which is called “sympathy” or “benevolence,” is “an essential part of the social instincts.”
Supported by recent neuroscience studies, which have shown that when people behave
altruistically, their brains activate in regions that signal pleasure and reward, similar to when
they eat chocolate.

There are at least two kinds of altruism.  Psychological altruism means acting out of
concern for the well-being of others, without regard to your own self-interest.  Biological altruism
refers to behavior that helps the survival of a species without benefiting the particular individual
who’s being altruistic.   It may not be obvious what exactly these two forms of altruism have to
do with each other and why they should be discussed in the same breath. 

You could think that the two come together in certain theories about human nature.
Some say that humans are by nature selfish.  But evolutionary biology and psychology are
beginning to challenge this idea.   It turns out that evolution has actually hard-wired altruistic
behavior into many animals -- including human beings.  Thus the facts of biological altruism
might be thought to show the error of those who think that humans are psychologically egoistic.

This does not mean that humans are more altruistic than selfish; instead, evidence
suggests we have deeply ingrained tendencies to act in either direction. Our challenge lies in
finding ways to evoke the better angels of our nature.
Why we chose

Often, we’re inspired by the small things in life that leave lasting impressions: Art, Film,
Photography, Novels, Poetry, Bedtime stories, Acts of kindness, Relationships. The sources for
inspiration are endless. Such is the case for inspirations behind structures like buildings,
museums, hospitals, civic centers, etc.

In many ways, buildings epitomize this concept: they are designed for service and to give
without expectation. They are not iconic for the sake of being iconic, but if they are, it’s because
of the unique qualities of our clients and the end users.

Choosing altruism as our approach in our design, it’s less prescriptive and more about utilizing
the right tools and methods as required by each project’s objectives and critical issues. Trying to
design based on the unique aspirations and needs of the clients and users leads in to attaining
humanitarian architecture. Brought to life in each project, the result is a physical expression of
context, place, and people. They are designed to make positively impact, to enhance the quality
of life of communities, and to bring joy to those that inhabit them.

Everything is design. A chicken coop can have the same impact as a large building. Our
approach to this design should be no different than our approach to designing a master plan,
academic building, museum, or private residence.

If we’re modeling and influencing the world through the practice of architecture, that mission
exists on every scale: at the building scale, the planning scale, and even at the human scale.

Giving and being selfless are ways in which we might influence the world. To us, taking on the
role of an engaged listener and providing design expertise to benefit a neighborhood influences
the world. 
 A Civic Centre is a prominent land area within a community that is constructed to be its
focal point or center. It usually contains one or more dominant public buildings, which may also
include a government building. Recently, the term "civic center" has been used in reference to
an entire central business district of a community or a major shopping center in the middle of a
community. In this type of civic center, special attention is paid to the way public structures are
grouped and landscaped.

Trying to design a civic centre with an altruistic approach means having a pedestrian-
friendly landscape, recreational/public spaces for interaction of people within the community,
also having civic centre amenities that would help the improve the quality of life within the city.

Having a pedestrian-friendly landscape has health, environmental, and economic

benefits. Factors influencing walkability include the presence or absence and quality of
footpaths, sidewalks or other pedestrian rights-of-way, traffic and road conditions, land use
patterns, building accessibility, and safety, among others. It is also an important concept in
sustainable urban design.

Urban open space, also called as green spaces, provides to citizens can be broken into
three basic forms; recreation, ecology, and aesthetic value. Recreation in urban open space may
include active recreation (such as organized sports and individual exercise) or passive recreation,
which may simply entail being in the open space. In ecology, the conservation of nature in an urban
environment has direct impact on people for another reason as well. The aesthetic value of urban
open spaces is self-evident. People enjoy viewing nature, especially when it is otherwise extensively
deprived, as is the case in urban environments. Therefore, open space offers the value of
"substituting gray infrastructure."

Amenities such as stores or sports facilities that are provided for people’s convenience,
enjoyment, or comfort is something considered to benefit the community or property and thereby
increase its value.

In conclusion, in attaining an altruistic design,