Indigenous Housing Practices as Inspirations for Modern Green Buildings: Fid-Bau Portal

Indigenous Housing Practices as Inspirations for Modern Green Buildings

Kelly, Z. / Iqbal, A.

Some of Canada’s Indigenous architecture and building technology is reviewed in conjunction with Indigenous environmental philosophy as a guide for green building design and sustainably sourced building materials. Most Indigenous knowledge has been camouflaged by decades of European oppression and Indigenous loss. While there is little data on historical Indigenous architecture, what data that is available offers insight towards the complex relationships that structures have with the ecosystem. The Indigenous groups targeted here are the Inuit of Sub-Arctic Canada and the Haida of Haida Gwaii, an island on the Western Coast of British Columbia. Every detail in Indigenous architecture is the result of generations of complex and in-depth knowledge of local climate and vegetation, guided by a spiritual link and respect to their environment. Considering such knowledge can aid in the adjustment towards green buildings and communities, as illustrated by Inuit igloo and Haida cedar plank houses. Microclimate assessment becomes increasingly important as buildings grow larger and more complex. Considering different components of buildings and analyzing the impacts of local temperature changes, winds, precipitation, and vegetation, can result in buildings that are more efficient in both energy and materials. Together with the use of local materials inspired by the cedar plank houses and the efficient form of the igloo creating a warm home in frigid weather, wisdom of the people from hundreds of years ago can be appreciated.