New Construction
Location: Pickerel, ON
Client: Henvey Inlet First Nation
Construction Value: $2.1 million
Size: 6,000 sq. ft.
Status: Completed, 2018
This new 8 unit residence (four each of 2-bedroom and 1-bedroom units) is inspired by the Thunderbird geometrical designs seen in Anishinaabe beadwork. The symbolism is significant to Henvey Inlet First Nation, who wanted this new rental accommodation to be immediately recognizable as Anishinaabe architecture. The courtyard is enclosed by two wings, enclosing a safe and cozy place for children and families. The play yard is just to the west, the ice rink to the north, and the health centre, daycare, and after-school program are just to the east of this site, making it perfect for young families and Elders. All the trees on the site were carefully preserved and more planted in an all-indigenous species landscaping plan.
Location: Belleville, Ontario
Client: Summers & Co
Budget: $10 million
Size: 30,700 sq.ft.
Status: Construction
Team Members: Eladia Smoke, Chelsea Jacobs
With: Invizij
The adaptive reuse of a former Service Canada Centre, located in Belleville, will be converted into 38 housing units to support an inclusive and integrated community for local and Indigenous peoples and families. The rehabilitation project will also include ground floor commercial space intended for Indigenous organizations.
Collaboration and engagement were central to the design process undertaken. Supported by Invizj, Smoke Architecture worked with Garden River First Nation, Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, and Missanabie Cree First Nation to ensure the building would properly represent the future tenants inhabiting both the residential and commercial spaces.
Important to the adaptive reuse of the former federal building into housing units, was to address the institutional look and feel of the building and create a comfortable and welcoming space that promotes a healthy place to live and work. This was partly addressed through the incorporation of artwork and natural materials. Indigenous artwork is to be incorporated throughout the exterior and interior and will be representing the three distinct Nations who have come together to collaborate and bring this project forward. Natural materials have been selected such as wood ceiling and wall treatments that will continue throughout the public areas including the lobby, corridors, and amenity spaces to create a comfortable and welcoming space, and a sense of continuity throughout the building.
Creating spaces for land-based learning were fundamental to the project, as we had heard during our engagement session with the Indigenous community members attached to the project. As the existing site of the building was mainly parking, we carved out areas along the building perimeter and from the parking lot to support activities that connect to the land. This included gathering spaces and areas to garden, which was also key to our design of the fourth floor roof patio. The roof patio will provide residents the space to meet in circle, cook and gather outdoors, and ample gardening space for community gardening.
Achieving 25% energy efficiency over existing conditions was critical to the design process, we were able to achieve this through the incorporation of PV panels on the rooftop and by optimizing the wall assemblies with the help of a building envelope specialist.
Feasibility Study
Location: Bunibonibee Cree Nation, Manitoba
Client: National Research Council of Canada / Bunibonibee Cree
First Nation
Status: Study completed, 2020
Team Members: Eladia Smoke, Larissa Roque
A prototypical design for a 9-bedroom multi-family home in Bunibonibee Cree Nation responds to the nature of families and the ever-growing need for housing specific to the community. Form, size and materials where determined with local labour and shipping limitations in mind.
The design of a housing system for a remote First Nation or Métis community in Canada that is inspired by cultural tectonics, history, materiality, takes into consideration how the community will benefit in a multitude of ways, and that directly responds to a series of community engagement visits.