POoR Collective

In 2019, Shawn Adams, Larry Botchway, Ben Spry and Matt Harvey-Agyemang came together in London as a design practice and socially minded organisation under the name POoR Collective (Power Out of Restriction). Committed to amplifying the voices of young people through tangible architectural interventions, the group are driven by a desire to create positive change and empower disadvantaged communities to take greater agency over the built environment.

Whether leading community outreach, providing consultancy to leading institutions or delivering ambitious projects, the committedly non-hierarchical team behind POoR Collective believe in architecture with purpose. Keeping up a remarkable pace over their few short years, the multi-talented team have turned their unique ethos to everything from community centres to decolonialised educational curriculum, addressing gaps around representation, inclusion and access. In 2023, POoR Collective’s unique contribution was  recognised with London Design Festival’s Emerging Design Medal.

Even if the people behind POoR Collective weren’t so outrageously funny and genuine, Zetteler would still be on board to do everything we could to help with their community-orientated mission – it just helps that they’re overflowing with solid ideas and good vibes. We introduce POoR to everyone we can, shout from the rooftops about their projects and provide advice as needed.