#klahoose

[j3mj3rrica]

#BrackenHanuseCorlett : dis(Place) (still) - 2007. #DigitalFilm #ContemporaryNativeArt #Wuikinuxv #Klahoose #NorthwestCoastArtist #ClosedMondays (at Minneapolis Institute of Art)

[theecoreport]

First Nations Demand More Responsible Energy Policies

First Nations Demand More Responsible Energy Policies

As a result of BC’s failure to develop clean energy or consult with First Nations, a coalition of First Nations Demand More Responsible Energy Policies

Press release from the Sliammon, Klahoose, Sts’ailes and shíshálh Nations

A new coalition of First Nations communities is advancing a clean energy strategy that will put British Columbia at the forefront of renewable energy generation in Canada,…

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[archaeologicalnews]

Loggers find face in a tree

A face carved into a tree trunk was discovered by forestry workers in a remote location up Toba Inlet. It had been staring down an ancient river valley in the rainforest for almost 200 years.

The recent chance discovery was made approximately 60 miles up the inlet and helped to silence a question of doubt regarding the geographic limits of Klahoose First Nation traditional territory.

Two employees of Fireball Contracting Ltd., Rob Reynolds and Keith McCrea, were working in a cutblock and turned around to discover the carved face. Klahoose Forestry Limited Partnership manager Kim Olney, informed Klahoose First Nation of the find. Read more.

[designmattersblog-blog-blog]

More than just a pretty space: how architecture enriches communities

  What makes a great building?  How can architecture serve people and communities?

            On a basic level, buildings shelter us from the elements and provide places to work and play, but they must function in other ways too. Our built environment has the potential to enrich communities, encourage social interaction, leave small environmental footprints and improve working conditions and comfort levels. In my opinion, if all of these things are achievedand the building is also beautiful, truly great architecture has been created. We can all recognize architectural “blind-spots” and eyesores. Perhaps it’s a commercial development that has sat vacant in a neighbourhood for months, even years, devoid of human activity. Or maybe there’s something unappealing about the architectural expression at a pedestrian level, such as an uncomfortable scale, or a cold, banal material.

            Here’s my round up of some close (enough) to home buildings that prove we shouldn’t have to settle for anything less than attractive community-enhancing architecture.

 1) Seattle’s Central Library: Designed by OMA, a firm lead by world-renowned architect Rem Koolhaas, it has been referred to as an indoor public park or plaza. It not only works as a library, but also performs as a landmark gathering place to interact with friends and strangers. Natural and artificial lighting, indoor air quality, accessible space for books, computers and people are all cohesively integrated to create an undeniable sense of place. Its “you-can’t-miss-it” unconventional architectural form – a multi-faceted skin of steel and glass – has increased civic pride and attracts tourists, thereby boosting the local economy.

2) Klahoose First Nation Multi-Centre: Sometimes, it’s not only the end result, but also a collaborative design and construction process that creates meaningful social impact. The Klahoose project is nestled amid cedar trees and rocky terrain on the remote eastern shore of Cortes Island, looking out over Squirrel Cove and the surrounding waters of Desolation Sound. The building is immediately eye-catching if you happen to be sailing by off shore. I was privileged to be involved in the later design stages of the project, and the experience reinforced for me one of the hallmarks of good architecture: ­that buildings should evolve out of culture and place. “The Klahoose Chief wanted a building that was modern, functional, provided for today’s needs as well as tomorrow’s adventures, and gave the community a strong identity,” says Project Lead and Associate of Merrick Architecture Darryl Jonas.  “He saw the building as the face of the Klahoose Nation to the world.”

             The 13,000 sq ft building was completed in 2010 and is divided into two main wings for administrative offices  and health services. A multi-purpose room, commercial kitchen and fitness area make up the building’s central node. Architecturally, the heavy timber frame is expressive of traditional Coast Salish building methods re-interpreted using modern building technology. Large windows maximize natural light. Existing rock formations surrounding the building and a large, unobstructed stepped terrace provide opportunities for people to gather comfortably outdoors. Western Red Cedar was harvested from the Klahoose Nation’s own forestry resource, and, within walking distance of the site, a saw mill was set up where raw lumber became exterior siding, interior trim and architectural woodwork — everything from stairs to seating benches. The saw mill, which is still operating, employs many Band members, enabling steady jobs, participation in the building’s construction and the development of new skills.

            “The building has uplifted the community tremendously,” says Band Councilor Jessie Louie, speaking of a renewed pride among Klahoose members. “There is an entirely new feeling when you walk inside compared to the old Band office.”

3. Vancouver Convention Centre -  The west expansion of the Vancouver Convention Center was completed in 2009 and changed the face of Vancouver’s waterfront. Its most visual feature (at least from above) is the 6 acre green roof, which is the largest non-industrial living roof in North America. Although the building’s main criticism has been that the green roof is not accessible to the public, the expansion has enhanced the community in many other ways. In addition to a host of sustainable building features, more than 12,000 square metres of new walkway and bikeway have extended the waterfront and improved public access there. Careful urban and architectural design considerations maximize sight lines from the downtown core to the waterfront and Stanley Park, continuing across the Burrard Inlet to the North Shore mountains. This visual connectivity between urban and natural settings heightens visitors’ experience and underscores place-making design. Furthermore, the Convention Centre brings together members of a global community, which contributes to Vancouver’s cultural vibrancy and perhaps creates a sense that international guests are really just a neighbourhood away.

4. The Atrium . In Victoria, the design of the Atrium office building bore a social intention from the outset. Architect Franc D’Ambrosio was conscious of repairing a transitional area of downtown and making the public domain more livable. The ground floor was mandated to be an interactive and animated space, and commercial tenants were conscientiously selected to bring a locally-derived energy to the pedestrian level (ie. no big-name chains). Inside, several of the shops and cafés like Habit and Zambri’s spill over into the airy, open atrium space, for which the building is named. Accessible from all bordering streets, the ground floor allows people to cross through the city block, while surrounded by interesting amenities and art (local artist Bill Porteous was commissioned to paint the construction site hoarding which was later disassembled and is now displayed throughout the building). Outside, landscaped rain gardens provide innovative storm water management while also adding some natural beauty to the sidewalk.

            However, D’Ambrosio recognizes that architects are not social engineers. “As an architect and urban designer I can’t fix fundamental societal problems, but I can make a better setting. I can pay attention to beauty.”

The late American architect Samuel Mockbee lamented before his death in 2001 that in recent decades the practice of architecture had “retreated from social and civic engagement to a preoccupation with matters of style.” I believe that the examples mentioned here represent an architectural consciousness that is re-aligned on a more socially-minded course.

Ultimately, much of a building’s character comes from the people who use it and the activities that are carried out in and around it. Architectural success on a community level relies in part on a public demand for socially inclusive and non-isolating buildings. Our city and region will continue to benefit from these types of places and spaces and let’s consider them the standard, not the exception.

published in Boulevard Magazine,  June 2012