100 projects of crowdfunding in architecture

Crowdfunding, in architectural context in particular, is a quite new development. People have the chance to take part in the process of planing or the realisation of architectural projects, to bring in their ideas and provide money to support a cause they care about. It can been seen as a new tool to create a new built environment for themselves or others in need.

The research took place from October to November 2014. The analysis, based on one hundred architectural projects, illustrates who participates, where the projects take place, what are the most common funding types are, how much money is provided and which building typologies are being developed and built. The research has been summarised in an excel-list and afterwards sorted and interpreted in sub items. This list should be seen as a representative of current trends and aims to point out new potentials and possibilities.

File:Crowdfunding.pdf

websites

The graphic visualises how many projects have been found on which website.

The projects have been selected from the following websites:

• 40 projects - kickstarter.com
• 10 projects - fundrise.com
• 10 projects - startnext.de
• 4 projects - makearchitecturehappen.com
• 3 projects - fundedbyme.com
• 2 projects - 100-days.com
• 2 projects - kisskissbankbank.com
• 2 projects - visionbakery.com
• 2 projects - spacehive.com
• 2 projects - all-zesamme.de
• 2 projects - crowdfunding.at
• 1 project - kapitalfreunde.de
• 1 project - crowdcube.com
• 1 project - globalgiving.org
• 1 project - gofundme.com
• 1 project - projektstarter.ch
• 1 project - rockethub.com
• 1 project - sponsume.com
• 1 project - 1000x1000.at
• 1 project - wemakeit.com
• 1 project - companisto.com
• 1 project - nordstarter.org

As shown in the graphic, most architectural projects were found on kickstarter.com, which also depends on the fact, that kickstarter.com is the biggest and most known international website for crowdfunding projects in general. Probably the most known German website is startnext.de.

Projects on websites, which are more visited frequently, tend to be funded more often, because the chance the get more backers is obvious. Most of the time the big websites are also more clearly structured, so you can find the informations you need very quickly. This could also be a reason, why backers spend their money on this websites, because the feel more save or included.

Fundrise.com is a special case. It‘s only lending-based and most of the projects belong to the subdivison ‘residential‘. People lend their money in forms of loans to the initiator to realise the projects and get it refunded in a predeterminated period with a set interest rate.

key

building typologies

The diagram divides the found projects into defined building typologies to show what kind of architectural projects in percentage have been launched.

Because the research only includes projects with an architectural content, it was highly important to see what kind of architectural typologies were mostly funded. The projects have been divided into following categories:

• Commercial - projects on any matter of business
• Community - projects provided for the community and their needs
• Culture - projects inluding all forms of fine and performing arts
• Education - projects aiming to spread knowledge
• Hybrid - projects with a mix-used purpose
• Public Space - projects taking place outdoors including landscape architecture
• Residential - projects including all forms of housing and living
• Technology - projects and ideas with the aim to upgrade buildings (e.g. sustainability)

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initiators

The information contained in this graphic is about the initiators status. It divides in companies, communities, students and private persons.

• company
• community
• private
• student

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types of crowdfunding

The Chart informs about the used types of crowd funding and their percentage within the one hundred projects.

• reward based crowdfunding: funders provide money in exchange for rewards based on levels that correspond to pledge amounts

• donation based crowdfunding: funders donate money to support a cause they care about

• lending based crowdfunding: funders provide money in the form of loans that they will get refunded over a pre-determined timeline with a set interest rate

• equity based crowdfunding / crowdinvestment: funders provide money in exchange of actual shares in a private company for capital

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funding status

The graphic provides information about the funding status of the campaigns. It states in per cent how many of the projects were funded, not funded or are still running.

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aid projects

File:Wiki weltkarte aid.jpg

This map visualises where the initiated aid-projects should take place.

locations

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This graphic gives an overview of the initiators origins and the maximum amount of money one has pledged for.