20 years of building better futures: Celebrating 20 of our favourite projects

Marking two decades of humanitarian architectural design at Article 25

This October, Article 25 celebrates 20 years of delivering sustainable, life-changing buildings in some of the world’s most challenging and under-resourced settings. As the UK’s leading humanitarian architectural NGO, we have completed over 100 projects in 35 countries, improving access to education, healthcare and housing from Tanzania to Nepal, Montserrat to Niger, and beyond.

To mark our anniversary - and ahead of our flagship 10x10 fundraising event on Thursday 3 July - we’re proud to reflect on 20 of our most transformative projects. These examples, selected across our key sectors, showcase the enduring power of architecture to deliver social impact.

From post-disaster housing in Pakistan and Dominica to inclusive schools and pioneering healthcare hubs, every project demonstrates that collaboration is key to lasting change. We also celebrate being recently shortlisted for the 2025 CharityTimes Awards for Corporate National Partnership Champion, in recognition of our More Than a Building network for leading organisations in the built environment.

Each project highlighted below represents not only a moment of impact but a commitment to people, places, and the future.

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Building classrooms, opening doors: How education transforms lives

Celebrating the power of safe, inspiring schools to unlock opportunity for every child.

El Shaddai Shanti Niketan School, India

Partners: El Shaddai Child Rescue
vibrant, purpose-built school in Goa offers a safe, welcoming space for children from vulnerable families to learn and grow through informal, English-based teaching. Designed to suit the region’s humid monsoon climate, the building is light-filled, sustainable and resilient - providing long-term access to education for those who need it most.

Primary School, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Partners: Children in Crisis UK, Eben-Ezer Ministries International Democratic Republic of Congo
In the remote mountains of South Kivu, Article 25 worked with the local community to design and build climate-responsive school facilities tailored to the region’s tough conditions. With classrooms, a meeting space and sheltered play areas, the project boosted enrolment - especially among marginalised children - and created a lasting hub for learning and community life.

Bethel Secondary School, Burkina Faso

Partners: Giving Africa, Association Evangélique d’Appui et Développement (AEAD), MHA Structural Design (Structural Engineers), Max Fordham (MEP Engineers)
This school addresses severe overcrowding and limited secondary education access in a region with low attendance and female enrolment. New classrooms, vocational spaces and facilities feature climate-responsive design to create comfortable learning environments despite extreme heat. The expanded campus now educates 1,000 children, including more girls, and provides meals for vulnerable students, fostering greater opportunity and community impact.

Boisrond Tonnerre School, Haiti

Partners: Outreach International, Community of Christ, Buro Happold (Structural Engineers), Max Fordham (MEP Engineers)
After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Article 25 worked with Outreach International to design and build an earthquake-resistant primary school and community hall in Pétionville. The school has six classrooms, a hall, kitchen, toilets and rainwater collection, using local materials and natural ventilation for the tropical climate. Completed in 2019, it serves 300 students and hosts adult education, offering a resilient, multipurpose community space and symbol of hope.

Collège Amadou Hampaté Bâ, Niger

Partners: Collège Amadou Hampaté Bâ, MHA Structural Design (Structural Engineers), Max Fordham (MEP Engineers)
In response to the extreme climate and educational barriers in Niger, Article 25 has designed a major expansion for the school, enabling it to serve up to 1,200 students with new classrooms, a library and vital infrastructure upgrades. Using passive cooling strategies - including a double roof system inspired by Francis Kéré - the award-winning design provides comfortable, low-energy spaces for learning while challenging gender stereotypes through construction training for female students.

CST Inclusive Pre-School, Tanzania

Partners: Child Support Tanzania • Able Child Africa, Engenuiti (Structural Engineers), Hoare Lea (MEP Engineers), WSP (Civil Engineers)
98% of children with disabilities in Africa are out of school despite inclusive education policies. Designed for 160 children, this school includes accessible classrooms and therapy spaces, - serving as a model for inclusive schools in Tanzania. By integrating children with and without disabilities, the school promotes friendships and development, and has trained over 280 teachers in inclusion and child rights.

Designing healthcare that strengthens systems and saves lives

We build clinics, hospitals and masterplans that meet urgent needs while planning for resilient futures.

Clinic for Children with Cleft Palate and Cleft Lip, Morocco

Partners: Operation Smile Morocco, Oujda Regional Government, STO, Webb Yates (Structural Engineers), Max Fordham (MEP Engineers), Gardiner & Theobald (Quantity Surveyors)
Children born with cleft lip or palate in eastern Morocco lacked local, free treatment, forcing families to travel long distances. Article 25 was chosen by Operation Smile to design a climate-adapted clinic in Oujda – as well as 2 other clinics across the country - collaborating closely with medical staff to meet clinical needs. Completed in 2019, the clinic provides vital pre- and post-surgical care, dental services and has treated hundreds of children, improving health outcomes and reducing stigma.

Yangon General Hospital, Myanmar

Partners: Rangoon General Hospital Reinvigoration Charitable Trust, Yangon General Hospital, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (UK), MHA Structural Design (Structural Engineers), Max Fordham (MEP Engineers), Hoare Lea (MEP Engineers), Clarkebond (Civil Engineers)
Article 25 developed a 20-year Masterplan to restore and expand Yangon General Hospital, Myanmar’s largest public hospital and a vital training hub. We focused on preserving its heritage while upgrading infrastructure, safety and emergency resilience. Phase 1 prioritised essential services and site-wide safety improvements.

Anandaban Hospital Trauma Centre, Nepal

Partners: The Leprosy Mission England and Wales, The Leprosy Mission Nepal • Ramboll (Structural Engineers), Hoare Lea (MEP Engineers), WSP (Civil Engineers), John Sanday Associates (Structural + MEP Engineers)
The 2015 earthquakes in Nepal devastated remote areas, overwhelming healthcare services. Anandaban Hospital is Nepal’s main referral centre for leprosy complications and reconstructive surgery, crucial for thousands of patients. The new building, designed with seismic safety and sustainability in mind, provides expanded medical services and resilience, ensuring vital care continues after future disasters.

Outpatient Department, India

Partners: The Leprosy Mission England and Wales, The Leprosy Mission Trust India, Meinhardt (Structural Engineers), Hoare Lea (MEP Engineers)
Purulia Leprosy Hospital, India’s oldest and largest, faced severe overcrowding in its outdated outpatient facilities. Article 25 was commissioned to design a new outpatient department and staff training spaces using low-cost, climate-responsive materials to ensure natural cooling in temperatures up to 45°C. Completed in 2019, the new building now comfortably serves 50,000 patients annually, greatly improving care quality and staff working conditions.

Sittwe General Hospital Masterplan, Myanmar

Partners: UNOPS, Rangoon General Hospital Reinvigoration Charitable Trust, Sittwe General Hospital
Article 25 created a masterplan for the redevelopment of Sittwe General Hospital, the main healthcare provider for over 3 million people in flood-prone Rakhine State, Myanmar. The phased design reorganises services for efficient workflows, with a central reception hub, flexible wards and improved infrastructure so the hospital can deliver modern, resilient healthcare in a safer and more intuitive setting.

New National Hospital, Montserrat

Partners: Government of Montserrat, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (UK), Clarkebond (Structural + Civil Engineers), Expedite (Structural + Civil Engineers), Hoare Lea (MEP Engineers), Rider Levett Bucknall (Quantity Surveyors)
On the hurricane-prone island of Montserrat, Article 25 is designing and delivering a new national hospital to replace the temporary facility still in use nearly 30 years after a volcanic eruption destroyed the original. Informed by extensive consultation with staff and community members, the resilient, 57,000 sq ft hospital will bring vital services under one roof - built to NHS standards and tailored to the island’s remote, tropical conditions.

Anandaban Mycobacterial Research Laboratory, Nepal

Partners: The Leprosy Mission England and Wales, The Leprosy Mission Nepal, Ramboll (Structural + Civil Engineers), Miyamoto International (Local Structural Engineers), WSP (MEP Engineers), Subesha Engineering Services (Local MEP Engineers)
Leprosy remains a significant health issue in Nepal, with Anandaban Hospital leading world-class research and treatment. The existing lab facilities were outdated and inadequate, prompting the design of a new 1,600sqm laboratory complex built to meet site challenges and biosafety needs. This new lab will enhance research efficiency, supporting global efforts to improve leprosy diagnosis, treatment and policy.

Rebuilding lives through dignified, disaster-resilient housing

From post-earthquake villages to children’s homes, we design places that restore hope and create lasting impact.

Children's Home, Ghana

Partners: Let Kids Smile, Alan Camp Architects (Partner Architects)
In response to an urgent need in central Ghana, a new home was built in Nkoranza to provide safety, stability and care for vulnerable children and their live-in carers. Thoughtfully designed around a shaded courtyard, the sustainable building includes living, study and play areas, with surrounding land used for farming - offering a nurturing space for children to grow, learn and thrive.

Earthquake Resistant Housing, Pakistan

Partners: Muslim Aid Pakistan
Following the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan, Article 25 designed and built seismic-resistant homes for those most at risk - widows, the elderly and families unable to rebuild alone. Using local materials, traditional techniques and hands-on workshops, the project restored both shelter and a sense of safety, dignity and resilience.

Kao La Amani Childrens Village, Tanzania

Partners: Tír na nÓg Childrens Foundation, Kao La Amani • Multiphase (Local Architects), MHA Structural Design (Structural Engineers), Hoare Lea (MEP Engineers), Estate Care (Local Structural + MEP Engineers), WSP (Civil Engineers), MK Arch & Plan (Quantity Surveyors)
A sustainable, off-grid home in Boma provides a safe, nurturing environment for orphaned children to grow, learn and play together. Designed to support Tanzania’s next generation, the village includes family-style living spaces, an administration building and landscaped areas with trees, a playground and a sports pitch - bringing joy to all who visit.

Housing Recovery Project, Dominica

Partners: Government of Dominica World Bank, Clarkebond (Structural + Civil + MEP Engineers), Edghill Fortune Associates (Local Structural + Civil + MEP Engineers), Rider Levett Bucknall (Quantity Surveyors)
After Hurricane Maria destroyed 85% of homes in Dominica, Article 25 helped design six resilient house models as part of the island-wide Housing Recovery Project. Over 100 families now live in completed homes built to withstand future disasters, with more underway. The project supports local culture, climate resilience, and community empowerment, including jobs for the indigenous Kalinago people.

Creating lasting impact through innovation and community-led design

From post-disaster recovery to vocational centres and rural livelihoods, we create infrastructure that empowers communities long after construction ends.

Vocational Training Centre, Uganda

Partners: Chance for Childhood, Henning Stummel Architects (Partner Architects), MHA Structural Design (Structural Engineers), Max Fordham (MEP Engineers)
Patongo in Northern Uganda has a large displaced people’s camp with few training options for vulnerable youth, including former child soldiers. Article 25 designed and built an earthquake-resilient, off-grid Vocational Training Centre with flexible spaces, rainwater harvesting and a football pitch. Completed in 2012 using local materials and labour, it has helped hundreds of young people recover, learn skills and rebuild their lives.

Child Counselling Unit, Lesotho

Partners: Sentebale - The Prince’s Foundation, Eng. Lebohang Phooko (Structural Engineer)
Amid Lesotho’s AIDS crisis, Article 25 stepped in to rescue a fire-damaged, abandoned build and transform it into a safe, functional Child Counselling Unit. Through expert design and oversight, the centre now delivers trauma therapy, legal support and community training to protect vulnerable children.

Blues Creamery, Rwanda

Partners: Blues Creamery, Mubari Farmers Co-operative, Africa Agri-Food Development Programme (AADP), Ramboll (Structural + Civil Engineers), Hoare Lea (MEP Engineers), Niras (F&B Consultants)
In Eastern Rwanda, Article 25 is leading the design of an off-grid artisanal cheese creamery that transforms local milk into high-value products, supporting over 350 small-scale farmers. The Blues Creamery masterplan combines sustainable construction, food-safe production facilities, and education spaces - creating jobs, improving child nutrition through whey-based school drinks, and offering a bold model for rural regeneration and climate-conscious development.

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Looking ahead

These 20 projects are just a snapshot of what we’ve achieved with our partners, supporters and communities over two decades. From award-winning design innovation to grassroots collaboration, Article 25 remains committed to building better futures through architecture.

As we celebrate this milestone, we invite you to join us in continuing this journey. Whether by attending our 10x10 event, becoming a corporate partner, or simply spreading the word - together, we can ensure the next 20 years are even more impactful.

Want to get involved or support our mission?

Join us at 10x10 on Thursday 3rd July 2025, follow us on LinkedIn, or donate to help us reach more communities in need.