With an ever-growing population comes an ever-growing list of ways in which we are destroying our planet. We are pushing the Earth to its limits. If we continue to live in this way, there will eventually become a time when we outgrow our only home and this could come much sooner than most people think. We are capable of living sustainably; we can see this in cases such as the Burj Khalifa – one of the world’s most sustainable and efficient structures made by man. But greed, selfishness, and a general lack of knowledge are inhibiting us from doing so. Our leaders are narrow-minded with money and success being their primary focus. So, as we continue to live carelessly, we continue to reap the consequences.

An example of these consequences is the ever more frequent natural disasters that are negligently taking lives and homes all over the world. Responding to this issue, Emily Shaw designed a community centre with a primary focus on helping those in need during Sheffield’s flooding. She created her own emergency shelter to accommodate individuals that are evacuated from their homes and considered their needs when it came to materials, spatial planning, and activities on offer within the site. She introduced a charity shop that supplied clean clothing and toiletries, a pop up vegan café providing food and drink, and an advice centre that offered support and guidance on living/finance issues. Her aim was to offer a safe space for people during a very stressful and uncomfortable time, but also promote a sustainable lifestyle and educate them on how our actions can have direct consequences.