Constructive ethics: a framework for global humanitarian architecture and planning

Abstract

The work of planners and architects in international contexts, especially in the Global South, often involves complex ethical dilemmas seldom addressed in architecture and planning literature. Virtuous motivations are insufficient to navigate the wicked ethical dilemmas encountered in some of these settings. We draw lessons from global health and allied fields to highlight the need for an ethical framework to guide architecture and planning research, and practice with humanitarian motives. Employing analogical reasoning, we utilise data primarily from academic and grey literature, and transcripts from public presentations, to distil five principles to guide and initiate conversations around ethical issues to consider in global humanitarian architecture and planning. These principles revolve around obligation and capacity to act; purpose and expectations; responsibility, burden, and risk; transparency, privacy, and sharing; and self-determination and empowerment. We do not prescribe a panacea, but offer initial thoughts on why and how architects and planners need to situate our values, judgments, and actions within the unique histories and lived experiences of the people and places we engage with for our global humanitarian architecture and planning projects.