Architects should use their influence to help bring an end to London's homelessness crisis, said housing specialist Peter Barber in an exclusive interview with Dezeen, but admits his projects are "just scratching the surface" of the problem.
Barber has designed numerous homeless housing projects in London including Mount Pleasant and Spring Gardens schemes. However, he is aware that these projects are only a small part of what needs to be done to solve London's homelessness crisis.
"The hostel projects are really rewarding and they feel like big achievements, although it's a bit of a Band-Aid," he told Dezeen.
"I'm quite pleased with the designs, but the danger is thinking 'oh that's nice, aren't we good"' when it's just scratching the surface," he added. Everyone responsible "for sorting the situation out"
His own practice, the eponymous Peter Barber Architects, has developed a reputation for building sturdy, beautiful social housing as well as homeless hostels. The studio's McGrath Road project in London recently won the RIBA Neave Brown Award for Housing.
Barber estimates he has designed buildings with 250 rough sleeper bed spaces in London during his career of 40-plus years.
The Greater London Authority's best estimate is that more than 11,000 people slept rough in the city between April 2020 and April 2021, with outreach workers spotting 7,531 people bedding down outside for the first time during that period.
Peter B...