Cameron Sinclair

For the Scottish composer, see Cameron Sinclair (composer).

Cameron Sinclair
Cameron Sinclair in 2011.
Born (1973-11-16) 16 November 1973 (age 51)
London, England
Nationality
  • British
  • American
Alma materKingswood School; University of Westminster; University College London
OccupationArchitect
AwardsTED Prize; National Design Award; Bicentenary Medal of the Royal Society of Arts; Aspen Seven
ProjectsOpen Architecture Network; Architecture for Humanity; Worldchanging Institute; Design Like You Give A Damn; Armory of Harmony

Cameron Sinclair (born 16 November 1973) is a designer, writer and one of the pioneers in socially responsive architecture.[1] He is founder of the Worldchanging Institute, a research institute focused on innovative solutions to social and humanitarian crises[2] and serves as pro bono designer of Armory of Harmony, a US-based organization focused on smelting down decommissioned weapons into musical instruments.[3] He is a third generation gin maker and is co-founder of Half Kingdom Gin based in Jerome, Arizona. [4]

In 1999 he co-founded Architecture for Humanity with Kate Stohr, a charitable organization that developed architectural solutions to humanitarian crises and brought professional design and construction services to communities in need. In May 2013 he stepped down from its board and in October 2013 resigned as its "chief eternal optimist"(CEO) and executive director. Sinclair worked as director of the Jolie-Pitt Foundation from November 2013 to December 2015 including overseeing construction of a children's hospital in Ethiopia.

He was head of social innovation and helped to develop the humanitarian programs at Airbnb.[5] Projects included emergency short term housing for those displaced by man-made and natural disasters; livelihoods for vulnerable communities; Community-led adventure travel and rural revitalization.

In 2012 he founded Small Works, a for purpose design company which focuses on reconstruction and social impact projects. The organization is best known for its award-winning self built re-deployable structures, many of which were built as schools in Jordan by Syrian refugees and Jordanian engineers. Currently over 11,000 children have been educated in these facilities. Sinclair partnered with MADE Collective to propose the world's first co-nation called Otra Nation[6] and BorderBNB, a home-share platform for families separated by political conflict and natural disasters.

  1. ^ "Architects of Social Responsibility". Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Worldchanging Institute". Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Armory of Harmony Team". Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Half Kingdom Gin".
  5. ^ "Cameron Sinclair to lead Airbnb's humanitarian team". Dezeen. April 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  6. ^ "These Mexican and American Designers Have A Radical Idea for Trumps Wall". Fast Company. April 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2017.