… but who are we building for?

Architecture has historically functioned as both shelter and a tool for power that can establish dominance and exclusion, often failing to accommodate diverse needs and ways of being. In this second publication from Building Diversity, architectural establishments and norms are challenged. The editors examine who buildings and environments are designed for and with, emphasizing collaboration that includes diverse perspectives across human, multi-species, ecosystem, and climate needs. Rather than presenting a unified narrative, the book acknowledges contradictions and multiple entry points into the question “who are we building for?,” aiming to amplify marginalised voices, emerging from a global open call for contributions, and foster agency in making the built environment more inclusive and equitable.