Architects Assist
Architects Assist (AA) is a national organisation of Australian architects, other built environment professionals and students providing pro bono advice and services to individuals and communities affected by natural disasters, such as bushfires or floods, or other adverse circumstances. The grassroots organisation operates voluntarily, without funding, semi-independently under the umbrella of the Australian Institute of Architects.
History
Architects Assist was established on 4 January 2020 by Jiri Lev in response to the 2019-20 Australian bushfires disaster, as a "platform for equitable access to sustainable and resilient architecture". By 7 January 600 registrations were received from architecture firms, sole practitioners and student volunteers as well as first enquiries from bushfire victims. On 9 January the organisation came officially under the umbrella of the Australian Institute of Architects. In February 2020 it had AbOUT 550 architecture firms and 1500 architecture students as members. In March 2020 Architects Assist begun including members from related professions such as town planners (PIA) and landscape architects (AILA) and had about 600 participating firms.
Activities
After broad initial response, both national and global, the bushfire recovery was slowed down by the 2020 coronavirus outbreak in Australia. To regain momentum, between July and September 2020 Architects Assist representatives toured bushfire-affected regions across Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. Simultaneously, local bushfire recovery community workshops were organised by member architects. By September 2020 a number of residential, commercial and civic projects initiated through the organisation were under way.