Article 25

Article 25 is the UK’s leading international architectural NGO that builds high-quality hospitals, schools and homes in the places that need them most. Registered charity number 1112621, Article 25 has designed and delivered over 100 projects for NGOs and governments worldwide, tackling challenges like earthquake risks, remote locations, extreme weather, and unreliable power supplies. Thanks to Article 25's work, more children are able to complete their education, healthcare is within reach of more communities, and people have safer homes that can withstand a changing climate.

History
Article 25 was established on 31 October 2005 by Maxwell Hutchinson as President, Dr Victoria Harris as founder-CEO and Jack Pringle as Chair. Following the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, the founders recognised the potential impact the built environment could have on saving lives and preventing natural hazards from turning into full-blown disasters. Originally named "Architects for Aid", the brief of the organisation expanded quickly and the new name Article 25 made reference to the principles of the 25th Article in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that safe and adequate shelter is a fundamental human right. Since it was formed, Article 25 has been governed by a distinguished trustee board including three RIBA Presidents: Maxwell Hutchinson, Sunand Prasad and Jack Pringle. The Patron of Article 25 is Norman Foster, a key figure in British modernist architecture. Jack Pringle remains a Trustee today, ensuring security and continuity for Article 25 throughout two decades. Many of the UK's great architects and several RIBA presidents have also been trustees over the years.

Activity
Article 25’s projects range from one-off building projects for community-based organisations to large master planning projects for international organisations, including technical consultancy services for NGOs who have little access to vital design expertise. Article 25 has worked with the UN, the Red Cross and Crescent, governments (including being funded by DFID in the UK), numerous NGOs and the worlds most prominent relief organisations. Article 25 has taken the lead on reconstruction and development projects including building schools in Haiti, hurricane resistant homes in Dominica, and earthquake resistant homes in Pakistan.

Some of the completed projects include an award-winning seismically resistant sustainable housing programme in Northern Pakistan with Muslim Aid, which received the prestigious 2009 Urban Land Institute Award, Asia Pacific section, and an award-nominated school for street children in Goa, India, with El Shaddai Street Child Rescue, which was the very first project the charity undertook. Other projects include work as far afield as Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, Mozambique, and Tanzania amongst others. The NGO has delivered 100 projects in 35 countries across five continents, including a collaboration with Prince Harry's charity Sentebale, based in Lesotho, where Article 25 built the often pictured orphanage and school still run by Sentebale.

In 2022, Article 25's Collège Amadou Hampaté Bâ project in Niamey, Niger was named as one of Architonic's Projects of the Year. In 2024, the college won a RIBA International Award for Excellence and two AIA UK Design Awards for Sustainability and Best Professional Medium Project. The project was credited for using low-carbon local materials and for the charity's work to train local masons.