SUMMARY
What if buildings had rights?
In a world where human rights reign supreme, one extraordinary building dares to ask a question that could change everything.
Meet SOZA — the former Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment in The Hague. Once filled with life and purpose, now threatened with demolition, SOZA refuses to stay silent. With the help of Pete, a sharp-witted pigeon, and Gus, a weary janitor with a stubborn heart, this remarkable building begins an improbable fight for his own survival — and for the dignity of all that humanity leaves behind.
Blending fiction and philosophy, humor and heart, SOZA: The Untold Story of an Extraordinary Building and the Pledged Fight for His Rights reimagines the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through the eyes of a building.
Each chapter brings one of the UDHR’s thirty articles to life in a powerful and thought-provoking journey about memory, justice, and empathy beyond the human world.
Written by Prof. Dr. Ana Pereira Roders, UNESCO Chairholder at TU Delft, the Netherlands, and a leading academic in urban conservation, heritage, and sustainability, this novel challenges how we think about progress, preservation, and our shared responsibility to care for the world we build.
A tale of friendship, courage, and conviction that bridges imagination and reality.
A call to rethink what deserves protection — and why.
Perfect for readers who love:
Literary and philosophical fiction (The Little Prince, The Overstory, Invisible Cities)
Stories where the environment and built heritage take center stage
Thoughtful, visionary tales about justice, empathy, and change
CASE STUDY
The Hague