Our Purpose

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We believe in the power of good design to do more than shape buildings — it can honor communities, heal the environment, and bring joy to the people who call these places home.

Home is a basic human need, and access to quality, affordable housing is one of the defining challenges of our time. At Architects FORA, we are driven by one urgent mission: to create vibrant, resilient, and equitable housing at all scales.

For A -

leigh avenue courtyard - the location of one of our post-occupancy surveys

Design is better when diverse perspectives and disciplines are at the table, and those closest to the problem are closest to the solution. So we:
/ co-create visions with our clients and communities,
/ leverage hyper-local knowledge,
/ loop in outside experts, best practices, and emerging research when needed, and
/ design with empathy for end-users.

orchard gardens rendering - sensitive community engagement was necessary to help existing resitdents with transitions into the new building

Design is an impactful process and we hold a deep respect for humanity. So, we:
/ are keen and receptive listeners to the journeys and desired futures of our residents,
/ push conventionally exclusive boundaries of architectural design process with a more holistic and healing approach,
/ acknowledge the role our designs have to play in restoring justice to communities marginalized by broken systems and housing policies, and
/ our end goal is bigger than just a building. We want to see aspects of our world and lives transformed for the better.

We pride ourselves on designs that synergize with communities and build upon their existing strengths. So we:
/ create opportunities for connection to community and amenities,
/ create connections to nature, and
/ promote health and wellbeing through healthy materials, natural daylight, and fresh air.

We believe in the power of design to create a future that is beautiful, secure, and joyful

—FOR ALL

Sustainable Design Stratgies 1585 studios mountainview

We approach design with the goal of celebrating, respecting, and harmonizing with nature. So we:
/ recognize the healing power and beauty of nature elements integrated with architecture,
/ leverage technology to optimize our designs and design process,
/ reduce our impact through low energy, low carbon, and low water solutions, and
/ know that by future-proofing our buildings, we are ensuring our residents will not have to face a disproportionate vulnerability to climate change.

woman in walker in japantown - a housing project meant to help seniors age in place in their neighborhood affordably

We envision a world with housing for all income levels, designed for all ages and abilities, and equitable in opportunity across place. So we:
/ strive to increase the availability of high-quality housing choices, and
/ craft adaptive and flexible spaces that support residents’ wide spectrum of needs and opportunities