Cait Pele
Advisor: Shawn Bailey
Traditional Indigenous structures were profoundly influenced by the land on which they were constructed and the community who built them. The building process consisted of “natural materials sourced locally, harvested in ways to ensure the land was not harmed nor were the materials over-harvested … [and the structure itself was built in a way as to] cause as little harm to the land as possible.” Materials were further mended and repurposed to prolong their use and prevent taking more than necessary form the land.
Biomaterials have the ability to improve indoor environmental quality as they often have low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and contain non-toxic ingredients such as formaldehyde, phthalates and heavy metals, reducing the risk for long-term health issues such as cancer and endocrine disruption. They also have the ability to improve indoor air quality through natural ventilation and air purification by reducing or breaking down pollutants and odours in the air. Thermal comfort may be enhanced through natural thermal regulation, reducing the need for air conditioning or heating, as well as offer effective humidity control, preventing mold growth and reducing the risk of respiratory issues. Finally, biomaterials can offer a connection to nature, bringing natural elements into a space which has been shown to enhance mood, improve cognitive function, reduce stress and improve mental and emotional wellbeing.
In terms of environmental health, biomaterials have a reduced environmental impact, as they tend to be sustainably sourced, are often recyclable or biodegradable and can potentially be harvested locally, leading to significantly lower embodied energy. Biomaterials are also already carbon stores, seeing as their components tend to be made up of natural raw material which has sequestered CO2 from the atmosphere prior to being harvested.
The health and wellbeing of Indigenous peoples has been deeply rooted in respectful and reciprocal relationships with the land and all other beings of creation. This connection to the land induced a tradition of knowing whereby it was understood when the land needed to heal, and housing was relocated to allow for the land to naturally re-generate. This harmonious relationship with the land helped guide lifestyles and habits, thus helping to keep both the land and people in wholistic balance together. This connection is thickly interwoven into everyday life through ceremony, with ceremonial spaces being inseparable from living spaces.
Through the exploration of designing co-housing for individuals relocating to the city in Spence Neighbourhood with the use of locally-sourced biomaterials, this thesis aims to consider ways in which to provide assistance to help with the challenges of moving to the city, while also building a symbiotic and nurturing connection between the occupants, community and land in a health promoting atmosphere.
Through the arrangement of a co-housing living space, the importance of relationships with family and community may be nurtured. It allows for multiple families and generations to live within proximity of each other, while also ensuring privacy and space. The values embodied in co-housing spaces “support important aspects of Indigenous wellbeing such as intergenerational knowledge transmission, shared meal preparation and consumption, communal child-rearing and a strong sense of community, all of which directly and indirectly contribute to the social aspects of Indigenous communities.” It is essential that this co-housing incorporates Indigenous values into its housing policies and practices, maintaining wholism, interconnectedness and reciprocity as its three guiding pillars.
Wood/lumber (structural)
Spruce, pine and fir grow abundantly in Canada and are the predominant species used in the lumber industry. Beginning in the 1970’s, the lumber industry was a dominant sector in Manitoba’s economic development, with the majority of lumber milled in Kenora. The harvested lumber was used for both construction within Manitoba as well as exported to the Northern United States until 1921 when the American government began to raise tariffs on Canadian lumber products. By the 1930’s, almost all of the old growth forests in Manitoba had been harvested and lumber began to be imported into Manitoba which continues today.
Urban Lumber, a lumber company located in the Winnipeg, manufactures 100% of their lumber from trees salvaged from the City of Winnipeg that have been removed due to either decline, development, or safety reasons. Previously these trees were being chipped and then thrown into the landfill, thus Urban lumber is not only minimizing material sitting in the landfill, but significantly decreasing the embodied energy of their product.
Hempcrete is made from a mixture of hemp hurd, lime and water. Depending on its application, hempcrete can be mixed in various proportions to create different building materials from a concrete-like mixture to create blocks or be packed into a wall, floor or roof construction; it may be used to create a finishing material such as a lime-based plaster, or it can be made into soft batts to be used for insulation. Hempcrete may also be used as both an exterior or interior wall finish, however if it is used as an exterior finish, it must include a waterproof layer and it cannot come into contact with the ground.
Hemp can be planted in the early spring and takes 100 to 120 days to mature enough to be harvested, allowing for multiple harvests in one growing season. Lime can be quarried so long as there is no snow cover, however it cannot be used in temperatures below 4 degrees Celsius (see figure 1 in appendix). Hempcrete has a 2-hour fire rating and a low smoke density index. It has the ability to passively regulate internal temperatures, allowing for significantly reduced energy consumption and has an R-value range from 0.67/cm to 1.2/cm and is highly resistant to mold.
Cattails are a widespread aquatic plant found in Manitoba which thrive in wetland environments. Dense clusters of cattails provide habitats for a range of insect and bird species, as well as help to stabilize the soil, preventing erosion and contributes to keeping water levels high in seasons of drought. Cattails also act as a natural water purifier, absorbing pollutants and contaminants out. They also have the ability to absorb 14.2 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere/10 tonnes of dried product per year. Cattails are so resilient, they can be considered an invasive species, propagating through both their root system and their lightweight seeds, providing the perfect material to be managed through annual cultivation.
Cattails may be harvested in the fall into winter once the plant has fully matured and been able to spread its seeds for the following year. Cattail insulation board has a fire rating of 0.052 watts/mK, making it quite fire proof and it releases no toxic chemicals. Its thermal conductivity is 0.055 watts/mK and since it is an aquatic plant, it is extremely resistant against mold and fungal attack.
Cattails are a widespread aquatic plant found in Manitoba which thrive in wetland environments. Dense clusters of cattails provide habitats for a range of insect and bird species, as well as help to stabilize the soil, preventing erosion and contributes to keeping water levels high in seasons of drought. Cattails also act as a natural water purifier, absorbing pollutants and contaminants out. They also have the ability to absorb 14.2 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere/10 tonnes of dried product per year. Cattails are so resilient, they can be considered an invasive species, propagating through both their root system and their lightweight seeds, providing the perfect material to be managed through annual cultivation.
Cattails may be harvested in the fall into winter once the plant has fully matured and been able to spread its seeds for the following year. Cattail insulation board has a fire rating of 0.052 watts/mK, making it quite fire proof and it releases no toxic chemicals. Its thermal conductivity is 0.055 watts/mK and since it is an aquatic plant, it is extremely resistant against mold and fungal attack.
Naturally, Human
The human is a social species that has spent an estimated two hundred thousand years evolving in the natural environment.1 It is only in the most recent six thousand years that we have begun to inhabit in a densely built environment such as a city.2 As a species, we hold an “innate tendency to focus on [and affiliate with] other forms of life and life-like processes … [and] At the end of the day, we cannot be healthy, think well, or flourish by abandoning or ignoring our primal context”.3 Through Indigenous teachings we are taught this way of being is conveyed through our relations, understanding our interconnectedness and through practicing reciprocity with the land and all of creation – animate and inanimate.4
By taking a look at our physiological, emotional, and evolutional connections to our environment, we may begin to understand the human species from a biological approach and how we are innately connected and relate to the land. As urbanization causes us to become more disconnected from the land, we can learn from Indigenous teachings to view the human as a component of a much larger ecosystem and through understanding our interconnectedness, we learn that patience, time, trust in the process, building a connection to the land and allowing for the land to play a crucial role throughout the practice are a few of the teachings we can take forward into a new way of building and considering the materials that we use.
Through an exploration in the use of locally harvested biomaterials, this thesis aims to explore how we can incorporate Indigenous teachings in health and wellbeing to create a built environment that addresses our interconnectedness and relationality by supporting healing and positive health and wellbeing for the occupants, land, community and environment.