The sticky social

“Social responsibility is not a ‘feel good, do good’ add on.”

– Julie Eizenberg

“Architecture is a social medium.” This simple statement underpins all of the work of Koning Eizenberg Architecture and its founding directors, Julie Eizenberg and Hank Koning. The idea suffuses the projects produced by the practice, the publications they assemble, the contribution that Hank, Julie and their colleagues make to the profession and discipline, the generosity and pleasure with which they engage, and the warmth and good humour they extend to others – myself included.

This is not simply a matter of “social responsibility,” and it most certainly is not about pious, potentially dour attempts to “do good.” As Julie explains, “we’re meant to be good people because we do a lot of ‘public good’ projects. Well, I don’t see it that way. The projects are just as interesting as any others. The clients, or end users, are just as important as anyone else.”

Hank and Julie bring a clear and compelling ethical