Building a Just Future: Decolonise, Decarbonise, Democratise
In a world beset by disruptions and displacements, “Building a Just Future” has become an architectural, moral, and planetary imperative . At a time when people endure multiple spatial injustices, we are called to mend the planet’s torn tapestry for the wellbeing of humanity. Will we deepen inequality and eco‑bigotry, or will we commit to creating places of dignity, resilience, and shared belonging?
Decolonise mindsets to expand the canvas of architecture and urban planning — empowering humanitarians, socio‑ecological entrepreneurs, eco‑urban champions, and biophilic design innovators working for the common good.
Decarbonise our environments through climate‑smart, zero‑carbon approaches. Sequester carbon in materials, plantation, and wetlands; prevent extractive practices; confront eco‑bigotry; and help heal the planet.
Democratise all processes by giving agency to those who have been excluded, especially women. Heed the wisdom of communities who have sustained adversity across generations, and promote sustainable, inclusive development for an egalitarian future that serves both people and the planet.
Dr Yasmeen Lari is an architectural historian, a conservationist and a philanthropist. First woman architect of Pakistan’s journey from international modernism for the elite to zero-carbon architecture for the masses was rewarded in 2023 with RIBA’s Royal Gold Medal in architecture, the second woman to receive it since 1848. Her other awards include Sitara-i-Imtiaz, Hilal-i-Imtiaz, Fukuoka Prize from Japan and Jane Drew Prize from UK.She devised Barefoot Social Architecture (BASA) to provide social and ecological justice to marginalized sections. She has honorary degrees from Politecnico Di Milano and Oxford Brookes University and is Honorary Fellow of Jesus College at University of Cambridge.
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