Open Architecture Network

Business type

Open Business

Service/product description

The Open Architecture Network describes itself as “an online, open source community dedicated to improving living conditions through innovative and sustainable design.”

It is a platform for a community of architects to share ideas, collaborate on designs and manage projects. Architectural plans and blueprints are released through the site under Creative Commons licences.

The Network promotes biannual ‘challenges’, currently a project called ‘better classroom design’, and invites innovative proposals. Winning desingers are given funding to put their designs into construction.

What does 'openness' mean in this case?

As the website puts it, ‘the network has a simple mission: to generate not one idea but the hundreds of thousands of design ideas needed to improve living conditions for all.’ An open approach is seen as the best way to cater for development in poorer countries and in areas affected by disaster.