Indigenous buildings in Canada History Essay Research

Indigenous Architecture in Canada
Student's Name:
Institutional Affiliation:
Course:
Instructor:
Date:
Indigenous Architecture in Canada
According to Bradford (2018), the co-design concept, where indigenous communities work together with architectures to establish buildings, has increasingly become common. The purpose was to reflect one's culture, values, and traditions to the contemporary world. A unique community identity originated from the use of traditional materials and designs. A hands-on approach by every community member was because of the sense of pride for their community. Having buildings that describe the community had a long-lasting effect on members. Natural materials that enhance sustainability were mostly preferred by indigenous communities who wished to preserve the environment. Indigenous architectural work could be seen even in contemporary buildings where people wanted to identify with the continuity of their old traditions. This paper discusses three indigenous buildings in Ontario, Canada. It also examines how the differences between the Western Canadian architectural philosophy and Indigenous Design Theory contributed to indigenous communities' marginalization.
Natives have the right to protect their culture and traditions though there have often been injustices against them. They have control over how to express themselves in architecture by using materials and designs that would reveal their identity to the rest of the world. The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) identified exemplifying practices in architectural co-design. RAIC believes that architecture protects indigenous people from all injustices or segregation. The indigenous designs in Canada came from collaborations between indigenous and non-indigenous architects. Practices such as project initiation and co-design process brought various stakeholders together to design and build. The architect took keenness on the community's vision of reflecting their cultures and traditions, and the outcome got a feeling of satisfaction and appreciation of one's community.
Centre for Native Child & Family Well Being in Toronto
Figure 1.0: Centre for Native Child & Family Well Being in Toronto
The Centre for Native Child & Family Well Being in Toronto is an indigenous architecture that lies on a 30,000 square feet space. The building's sole purpose was to bring nature right into the city, especially to the first nations community, who wanted to experience the customs. Opened in June 2010, it now serves as a drop-in childcare center (Lga Architectural Partners, 2010). It somehow resembles a contemporary house with a rooftop lodge and a fire circle. The architects came together to design a facility with environmental graphics and natural plants. The building brings a rich cultural perspective, even with its regional aboriginal textiles. The building materials include yellow birch heartwood, river rock, and white cedar. There are green plants on the walls that somehow brings the picture of a garden.
Indigenous House at University of Toronto Scarborough
Figure 2: Indigenous House at University of Toronto Scarborough
Another indigenous building is the one at the University of Toronto Scarborough, partly in the ...