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"The devil finds work for idle hands"

This is probably more true now than ever before. Architecture can can and must play its role by making a case for the upgrading or creation of sporting facilities (and other community services). Not just facilities requiring expensive monthly subscriptions, but facilities that cost nothing, or nearly nothing to use.

It would be simplistic to suggest that this alone will solve all the social problems we have witnessed recently, but it is one thing that can be done.

Councils in most countries are notoriously short of money so it is up to architects to find creative ways to offer the most for the least outlay.

It may be the time for architects (and other design professionals such as industrial designers etc) to follow the suggestion of a well known industrial designer called Victor Papanek ("Design for the Real World", and "The Green Imperative"). His suggestion was that a designer should be prepared to give up approximately 1 week or so out of every year (for free) to design something of benefit to the community. In a time when there is probably less work for architects it is something that can be done without too much difficulty.....

There are many other social things that need to be looked at too such as making sure people stay in education etc that should be discussed, but I'm focusing only on the architectural side of things.