Michael Murphy Architecture Keynote: Boston Book Festival, “Justice is Beauty”

Boston Book Festival Architecture Keynote: Michael Murphy, MASS Design Group “Justice is Beauty”

Celebrating the first decade of our work, JUSTICE IS BEAUTY highlights the projects, people, and partnerships that have formed the backbone of MASS Design Group since our beginnings. Designed to reflect our process, the monograph features contributed essays from our partners, conversations between our team and collaborators, and in-depth visual essays of our built work, curated by architectural photographer, Iwan Baan.

Following a foreword by Chelsea Clinton, essays by Michael Murphy and Alan Ricks reflect upon the founding of the practice and lay bare the challenge of fighting against the “Justice Or Beauty” false dichotomy. Dr. Paul Farmer and Dr. Agnes Binagwaho reflect on the growth of MASS alongside the growth of Partners In Health and the delivery of healthcare in rural Rwanda. Along with contributed essays by Dr. Neel Shah, Dr. Jean William Pape, Fred Swaniker, Dr. Craig L. Wilkins, and Mark Lamster, six conversations between staff and partners paint a richer narrative of the posture behind the work, the obstacles to getting it done, and the deep and personal relevance of architecture in our daily lives.

Bounded by the volcanic rock that defined Butaro and the weathered steel that hangs in Montgomery, Alabama, we hope this publication invites you closer into our work. Thank you to the innumerable partners, supporters, friends, and team members that have made our first 10 years possible and have paved the way for future decades. The book is published by Monacelli Press and designed by OverUnder.