Cameron Sinclair facts for kids

Cameron Sinclair (born 16 November 1973) is a designer and writer. He is known for using design to help people in need. He is a leader in what's called socially responsive architecture. This means designing buildings and spaces that solve real-world problems.

Cameron Sinclair started the Worldchanging Institute. This group looks for new ideas to help with social and humanitarian problems. He also helps an organization called Armory of Harmony. They turn old weapons into musical instruments.

In 1999, he helped start Architecture for Humanity with Kate Stohr. This charity used architecture to help people after disasters. They offered design and building services to communities that needed them. Cameron Sinclair later worked for the Jolie-Pitt Foundation. There, he helped build a children's hospital in Ethiopia.

He also worked at Airbnb, focusing on social innovation. He helped create programs for people who lost their homes. These programs offered short-term housing after natural disasters.

In 2012, he started Small Works. This company designs projects that have a positive social impact. They are famous for their buildings that can be put together easily. Many of these were schools built in Jordan by Syrian refugees. Over 11,000 children have learned in these schools.

Early Life and Learning

Cameron Sinclair grew up in South East London, England. He went to Kingswood School in Bath. In the 1990s, he studied architecture at the University of Westminster and The Bartlett School of Architecture. This is part of University College London.

He became very interested in how design could help people and cultures. For his final project, he designed temporary homes for people without shelter in New York. This idea later became the basis for Architecture for Humanity.

Architecture for Humanity grew very large. It had 90,000 design professionals and offices around the world. While he was there, the organization helped build spaces for over 2.8 million people. These spaces were for living, working, learning, and healing. In 2008, the University of Westminster gave him an honorary doctorate. This was for his great work in architecture.

Helping Communities Through Design

After finishing university, Cameron Sinclair moved to New York City. On April 6, 1999, he co-founded Architecture for Humanity. This group created design solutions for humanitarian crises. They offered free design and building help to communities in need.

The organization worked in 48 countries. They built schools, health clinics, and affordable homes. They also helped rebuild after big disasters. This included the 2011 tsunami in Japan and the 2010 earthquakes in Haiti. They also helped after Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 South Asia tsunami.

In 2006, Sinclair and Kate Stohr wrote a book. It was called Design Like You care: Architectural Responses to Humanitarian Crises. In 2012, they released a second book, Design Like You care [2]: Building Change From The Ground Up. Cameron Sinclair often gives talks and teaches about sustainable development. He also teaches about rebuilding after disasters. He has taught in many countries, including Japan and the United States.

In 2016, Sinclair joined Airbnb. He helped lead their social innovation efforts. He worked to create temporary housing for people who needed it. He aimed to help 100,000 people find temporary homes.

Awards and Recognition

Cameron Sinclair has received many awards for his work. In 2004, Fortune Magazine named him one of the "Aspen Seven." These were seven people who were making the world better. In 2006, he received the TED Prize. This award helps people with big ideas make them happen.

With the TED Prize, he and Kate Stohr started the Open Architecture Network. This was the first online community for designers. It was dedicated to improving living conditions through smart and sustainable design. In 2012, this network joined with Worldchanging. This expanded their work to both buildings and the natural environment.

In 2008, Architecture for Humanity and its founders won the Design Patron Award. This was part of the National Design Awards. Cameron Sinclair also appeared on CNN and the TV show Iconoclasts.

In 2009, Sinclair and Stohr received the Bicentenary Medal of the Royal Society of Arts. This was for helping people become more resourceful. Sinclair also won the Pilosio Building Peace award in 2013.

He was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He is also a Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council.