Architecture and social value: Praxis, strategy, and tactics

In this chapter, we highlight some of the opportunities for considering, creating, and delivering social value within the architectural profession (its praxis). We also show how the agency architects have over their design process can be utilised to influence the design and coordination of a project team to collectively achieve social value. We set out examples of how we have utilised strategy and different operational approaches and tactics in creating and delivering social value. We discuss collaborative and agile strategies that we have learnt and applied from the periphery of architectural practice, drawing on good practice from software design, user experience, and creative industries. We also demonstrate how the strategies, allied to acting and choosing tactically, can help achieve many Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 1 No poverty, 4 Quality education, 11 Sustainable cities and communities, and 13 Climate action.