Instructor
Armstrong Uzoagwa
Track
Smart Architecture
Date
January 26, 2025
Notes
A course on how empathetic, human-centered design transforms spaces into systems that serve people with dignity and purpose.
Watch
Listen
Course Overview
This course reframes architecture as service in action — showing how the built environment can serve people rather than simply exist.
By combining empathy, sustainability, and smart technology, we can design systems that respond to real human needs.
Key Lessons
-
Empathy in Design
- Designing from the perspective of users
- Understanding cultural and social contexts
- Making architecture inclusive and accessible
-
Practical Sustainability
- Going beyond aesthetics — integrating renewable energy
- Designing with water and energy efficiency in mind
- Ensuring affordability and durability for communities
-
Smart Service
- IoT-powered spaces that adapt to needs
- Predictive maintenance through sensors
- Responsive layouts that evolve with use
Watch the Lesson
Why It Matters
- People-first approach: design with empathy for real needs
- Resilient communities: sustainable systems that last
- Smart adaptation: spaces that learn, respond, and grow
Hands-On Challenge
This week, choose a space you use daily and redesign it with empathy:
- Add at least one sustainable feature
- Imagine one smart integration (lighting, airflow, monitoring)
- Write down how it improves human experience
Next Steps
- Explore IoT-enabled building management
- Study low-cost sustainable housing models
- Apply design empathy in your next project