Arkitekter Uten Grenser Norge

What Arkitekter Uten Grenser Norge does

Arkitekter Uten Grenser Norge (AUG), also known as Architects Without Borders Norway, is a humanitarian non-profit foundation headquartered in Oslo, Norway. Founded in 2016 by Alfonso Rengifo and Paola Bornaschella and officially registered as a foundation under Norwegian law in 2021, AUG delivers architectural design services and built-environment projects for vulnerable communities across 18 countries spanning Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The organization's target beneficiaries include women and girls, children and youth, the elderly, indigenous communities, refugees and immigrants, and emerging communities in informal settlements. As of the latest reporting, AUG has delivered 60 projects, has 25 ongoing, and has 12 in active use.

AUG's core technical approach is a structured six-phase methodology — Observe, Identify, Approach, Design, Implement, Evaluate — supported by a regenerative research framework, evidence-based health and well-being design principles (lighting, acoustics, materials, color), and multidisciplinary co-creation workshops involving architects, engineers, sociologists, psychologists, and community members. Technical deliverables are produced using BIM tools (Autodesk Revit, AutoCAD), with software and capability support donated by Autodesk, Symetri, and Nordic BIM Group. Each project is designed as a modular prototype intended to be adapted and replicated, and outcomes are evaluated against the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The business model is entirely non-commercial. AUG generates no revenue from beneficiary communities, instead relying on individual donations, regular sponsorship, corporate volunteer hours, software/tool donations, project co-development partnerships, and consultancy contributions. Key partners include Architecture Sans Frontières International (ASF-Int), Engineers Without Borders Norway, AHO (Oslo School of Architecture and Design), Eco Moyo in Kenya, the Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, OsloTre, and CEVE CONICET AVE, alongside corporate sponsors such as KPMG Norway, Nordic Office of Architecture, Autodesk, and Nordic BIM Group. The organization operates a small Oslo-based core team of approximately 13, supplemented by 100+ cumulative professional volunteers, and reaches donors and partners through its website, social media, the Venice Architecture Festival 2023, and the '10 Years, 100 Volunteers' jubilee exhibition at ROM for kunst og arkitektur in 2024.

Name

Arkitekter Uten Grenser Norge

Legal name

Arkitekter Uten Grenser Norge

Website

https://augnorge.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Arkitekter Uten Grenser Norge is a Norwegian humanitarian non-profit foundation that delivers sustainable architectural design and built-environment projects for vulnerable communities—including women, children, refugees, and indigenous groups—across 18 countries, funded by donations and volunteer contributions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Architecture Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban & Regional Planning (Land Use, Zoning, Master Planning) (BPAIANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC), Urban Planning & Master Planning (BPAHAKAD), Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development (BPAGABAL)

Keywords

• Humanitarian architecture
• Sustainable design
• Community development
• Urban planning services
• Non-profit architecture

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct Donations: One-time financial contributions from individual donors to support AUG's ongoing humanitarian architecture projects.
2. Regular Sponsorship: Ongoing support from regular donors and sponsors covering essential administrative costs and enabling sustained project delivery.
3. Corporate Volunteer Time Donations: Companies encourage employees to contribute professional time and skills to social architecture projects by donating work hours.
4. Project Co-Development Partnerships: Organizations co-develop specific projects or provide targeted funding for defined initiatives, often with their brand associated.
5. Consultancy Services: Architecture, design, and related professional expertise provided by consultants to strengthen the organization's project impact.
6. Software and Tool Donations: Corporate partners donate software licenses or provide access to essential design and engineering tools used in project delivery.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Arkitekter Uten Grenser Norge delivers pro-bono humanitarian architecture and urban planning services for vulnerable communities. Using a six-phase methodology (Observe, Identify, Approach, Design, Implement, Evaluate), the organization designs schools, health facilities, community centers, women's safe houses, social housing, and regenerative landscape interventions in collaboration with local NGOs, community organizations, and government partners across roughly 18 countries.

Product overview

Arkitekter Uten Grenser Norge (AUG) / Architects Without Borders Norway is a humanitarian non-profit organization focused on sustainable architecture and urban planning for communities in need. Rather than a commercial product portfolio, AUG operates as a collaborative framework that delivers architectural design services, community development projects, and sustainable building solutions through a structured six-phase design process (Observe, Identify, Approach, Design, Implement, Evaluate). Projects are designed as flexible, replicable prototypes tailored to local communities, with emphasis on empowering target groups including women, children, elderly, indigenous communities, refugees, and emerging communities worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Humanitarian Architecture Design and Delivery Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 60 projects delivered, 25 ongoing, 12 in active use across 18 countries since 2016
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• Architecture Sans Frontières International (ASF-Int)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAUG is a member of Architecture Sans Frontières International (ASF-Int), a global network that pushes for social justice, heritage conservation, and the power of architecture to make a positive impact. This membership connects AUG to international humanitarian architecture networks and best practices.
• Nordic Office of ArchitectureminorOthersAppears as a sponsor on AUG's donate page, supporting AUG's mission financially or through in-kind contributions.
• AutodeskmoderateOthersSoftware sponsor providing design and engineering tools (including Revit and AutoCAD) used by AUG architects for BIM modeling and technical drawings. Listed as a sponsor supporting AUG's operational capacity.
• KPMG NorwayminorOthersListed as a sponsor on AUG's website, providing financial or in-kind support to the organization's operations.
• ECO Moyo (Kenya)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECO Moyo is a key local partner in Kenya where AUG has delivered multiple projects including kindergartens, sanitation facilities, multipurpose hall, and staff facilities. ECO Moyo serves as the on-the-ground implementing partner identifying community needs.
• Ingeniører Uten Grenser (Engineers Without Borders Norway)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorwegian sister organization (Engineers Without Borders Norway) listed as a sponsor. Shares AUG's humanitarian mission and likely collaborates on engineering aspects of projects requiring complementary technical expertise.
• Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Culto de la República ArgentinamoderateOthersArgentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship is a sponsor, reflecting governmental support for AUG's projects in Argentina involving Indigenous communities and local women.
• Nordic Bim GroupminorOthersBIM (Building Information Modeling) specialist firm listed as sponsor, potentially supporting AUG's digital design and modeling capabilities.
• SymetriminorOthersAEC software provider listed as sponsor, potentially contributing software tools or expertise supporting AUG's technical design processes.
• CEVE CONICET AVE (Argentina)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerArgentine research institution (CONICET) affiliated technical center working with AUG on local projects, particularly those involving indigenous communities in Argentina.
• AHO (Oslo School of Architecture and Design)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAHO is a key academic partner providing architectural expertise and potentially student volunteers. Several AUG team members are graduates of the Oslo School of Architecture and Design.
• OsloTre (Norway)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerOsloTre collaborates with AUG on the Guaraní project in Argentina, promoting a self-build system using local materials and traditional knowledge. OsloTre brings timber construction and vernacular building expertise.
• Partnership for ChangeminorOthersListed as a sponsor, supporting AUG's social impact mission through funding or in-kind contributions.
• Karpe (Norwegian Hip-Hop Duo / PAF Foundation)minorOthersNorwegian hip-hop duo Karpe donated 195,000 NOK to the Guaraní project through their PAF foundation which aids refugees and immigrants, showcasing celebrity/philanthropic support for AUG's indigenous community work.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MASS Design Group: US-based nonprofit architecture firm using built work to address social and health challenges, including healthcare facilities in low-resource settings. Directly comparable mission and evidence-based design methodology applied to humanitarian/development contexts.
• NKA Foundation: US-based nonprofit focused on community-built architecture in developing countries, using participatory design and local labor. Comparable pro-bono architectural service model targeted at underserved communities.
• Architecture Sans Frontières International: Global umbrella network for 'Architects Without Borders' national chapters of which AUG is a member. Directly comparable as the parent peer network in humanitarian architecture, sharing mission, methodology, and volunteer-driven project model.
• Architects Without Borders UK (Article 25): UK-registered charity delivering architectural services for disadvantaged communities worldwide. Directly comparable as a sister 'Architects Without Borders' organization with similar pro-bono built-environment focus and co-creation methodology.
• Architectes de l'Urgence / Architecture & Développement: French humanitarian architecture NGO delivering design services in post-disaster and crisis contexts. Directly comparable as a European nonprofit applying architectural expertise to vulnerable populations and emergency shelter.
• Engineers Without Borders Norway (Ingeniører Uten Grenser): Norwegian sister organization of AUG and listed sponsor, applying engineering expertise to humanitarian projects. Directly comparable as a Norwegian 'without borders' volunteer-driven organization partnering on overlapping projects.

Broad incumbents

• Habitat for Humanity International: Largest global nonprofit housing organization, building and improving housing for low-income families. Comparable in the affordable-housing-for-vulnerable-populations space, though broader in scope and far larger scale.
• UN-Habitat: United Nations programme for sustainable urban development and human settlements. Comparable mission alignment with AUG's urban planning and community development work, operating as a much larger public-sector incumbent.
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): Largest global humanitarian organization addressing shelter and community infrastructure in disaster and crisis contexts. Comparable in delivering shelter/community infrastructure for vulnerable populations, though operating at vastly greater scale.

Others

• World Bicycle Relief: Nonprofit providing mobility solutions (bicycles) for vulnerable populations in developing countries. Comparable as a donor-funded, project-delivery nonprofit serving similar geographies and beneficiary segments (women, youth, rural communities), though not architecture-focused.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arkitekter-uten-grenser-norge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Arkitekter Uten Grenser Norge