“Architecture is a social act. What role can architecture play in confronting issues of social justice, culture, gender, sexuality, and race?”

“In an era of globalization, environmental concerns, and urbanism we need to rethink the community-architect relationship, rethink the planner-architect relationship and turn away from the individual ‘starchitect’ toward the collective building.”

– Hansy Better, RISD Assistant Professor of Architecture

In her conversation, Professor Better discussed her book "Social Exchange: Reforming Architecture, Their Buildings," which provides a variety of new directions for architectural practices. Her book examines several case studies that refocus the cultural hierarchy of architecture on previously ignored populations. The book also investigates the potential power of overlapping social dialogue, social action, architectural culture and production.