social responsibility continues to be one of the most relevant topics of 2021. as the world is still trying to overcome the global COVID-19 crisis, the european refugee crisis is worsening, and the climate on our planet is becoming more extreme day by day, both architects and designers have found ways to help people and generate social impact through their practices. this year we have received thousands of projects that help tackle issues such as plastic pollution and water scarcity, as well as buildings designed to provide for those in need.

we take great pride in the open dialogue we have established with creatives all around the globe, and we are happy to present the high level of original projects of our readership. from a foldable wheelchair that fits cabin baggage, to an indonesian residence made of recycled plastic and bamboo, we highlight our TOP 10 reader submissions of 2021 – social impact.

JERRY IS A LOW-COST FILTER THAT FITS ONTO JERRY CANS TO PROVIDE SAFE DRINKING WATER

image courtesy of olivier de gruijter

according to a report by UNICEF and the world health organization, 1 in 3 people globally still do not have access to safe drinking water. to help tackle this issue and the diarrhoeal deaths attributed to unsafe water, olivier de gruijter of studio forthemany and business developer eise van maanen created JERRY, a self-cleaning water filter made specifically to fit onto jerry cans. the small, low-cost device hopes to provide safe drinking water to those who need it most.

MOHAMMAD HASSAN FOROUZANFAR RAISES THE FLAG OF RESISTANCE WISHING FOR FREEDOM IN AFGHANISTAN

image © mohammad hassan forouzanfar

you have probably heard the bad news about developments in afghanistan during 2021. the taliban terrorist group occupies most of the country’s provinces and is ready to rule. afghanistan, once part of iran, has fallen prey to terrorist groups again. today, not only the people, but all the capital and the cultural, historical, and ancient heritage of this country are in danger.

in response to this tragic news, mohammad hassan forouzanfar, an iran-born architect, graphic designer, and visual artist introduces a series of photographies; collecting some historical monuments of afghanistan and its ancient sites — which are also on the UNESCO world heritage list — and raising the flag of the people’s resistance force against the taliban, wishing freedom to all humans in afghanistan and precious heritage of this country.

PAPILIO IS A WIND-POWERED STREET LIGHT THAT SWITCHES ON ONLY WHEN IT’S NEEDED

image courtesy of tobias trübenabacher

in a bid to reduce the ecological footprint of street lighting, product design student tobias trübenabacher has developed ‘PAPILIO’, a wind-powered street lamp that switches on only when it’s needed. created for his graduation project at the university of the arts in berlin, PAPILIO hopes to tackle light pollution and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

A CINEMATIC JOURNEY THROUGH THE MINES, FACTORIES, AND SHIPYARDS OF CHINESE PRODUCTION

image from ‘consumed’ (2016) by richard john seymour

richard john seymour premiers his directorial debut with ‘consumed’, a short film that follows the laborious processes behind everyday products. the cinematic journey takes viewers to china, where a worker narrates his story to the rhythm of industrial machinery. from coal mines and polluted waters in inner mongolia, to container ships at qingdao port, the director gives a sober look at the impact of contemporary consumer society.

REVOLVE AIR IS A FOLDABLE WHEELCHAIR THAT EVEN FITS CABIN BAGGAGE

image courtesy of revolve air

a wheelchair that revolutionizes travel for its users. that’s what andrea mocellin envisions with the ‘revolve air’ foldable wheelchair. combining a safe and sturdy design with collapsable wheels, the product can fold down to fit the standard cabin baggage dimensions used universally by airlines. this means wheelchair users would no longer have to check-in their own wheelchair and rely on airport assistance along their journey, giving back the freedom that many of us take for granted.

PORTABLE AVALANCHE AIRBAG BY AEROSIZE IS A COMPACT SAFETY KIT FOR OFF-PISTE SNOWSPORTS

lightweight, safety-tested and stylish, ‘vest ONE’ by AEROSIZE is the world’s first certified avalanche airbag compact vest. geared towards people exposed to the danger of snow avalanches, the vest contains AEROSIZE’s patented hybrid airbag system that’s smaller than your average avalanche backpack kit. however, the airbag retains the standard capacity of 174 liters when filled up, offering protection for off-piste snowboarding, skiing, snowmobiles, and rescue teams.

CARLA BONILLA HUAROC TURNS LUXURY NYC CONDOS INTO HOUSING FOR PEOPLE LEAVING PRISON

image courtesy of carla bonilla huaroc

with this speculative project, carla bonilla huaroc shines a light on the enormous gap between affordable and luxury housing in the US. the concept – which won the adaptability award in arch out loud‘s HOME competition 2020 – takes us to new york city in the year 2035. set against the backdrop of a major recession, the project transforms apartments in stuyvesant town into transitional housing for people leaving prison.

THESE SHOE SOLES ARE MADE OF DISCARDED PARTY BALLOONS

images courtesy of undo for tomorrow

undo for tomorrow released nuven, a completely vegan shoe design made with the best recycled and natural materials. the design was released on indiegogo and it offers supreme comfort using soft and lightweight materials. the designers’ aim was to come up with a design that combines the comfort of performance sneakers with the style and shape of casual shoes.

‘SOLAR GIRAFFE’ IS A COMMUNAL SPACE TO CHARGE CELLPHONES IN MOZAMBIQUE

located in the rural area of magunze in mozambique, ‘solar giraffe’ is designed by architect ruben morgado as a communal space that offers public access to electricity. made up of photovoltaic panels and a roof, the structure powers a technical closet under the roof with 10 mobile charging outlets and a radio player to listen to music and the news. all other systems are installed to support and protect the electrical power and its users. more plug-in-play solutions are expected to be added including: internet hotspot, television and a computer, among other services.

RAW ARCHITECTURE USES RECYCLED PLASTIC + BAMBOO FOR WORKSHOP AND RESIDENCE IN INDONESIA

images by eric dinardi – bacteria photography

sitting on top of a hill in mekarwangi village, indonesia, is the ‘piyandeling’ workshop and residence designed by RAW architecture. following the studio’s ‘guha‘ project, this latest design works with local craftsmanship and local materials – predominately bamboo – to create three organic-shaped buildings that integrate into the context.