Revitalizing Indigenous Architecture in Rural Environments
Tierra Miller Arizona State University Masters in Architecture Thesis Spring 2019 Advisor: Wanda Dalla Costa Instructor: Joe Pritchard ADE 622 Tierra.Miller@asu.edu
Table of Content
Thesis Statement
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Methodology
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Navajo Nation | Current Conditions
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Cast Studies
16
Benally House
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Te Kura Whare
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Caring Wood
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Program
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Biophilic Design Matrix
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Site
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Traditional Navajo Hogan
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Process
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Life Cycle of the Navajo Hogan
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Thesis Statement
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An exploration of different design methods related to biophilic design can redefine a traditional Indigenous dwelling in rural environments, which can improve overall living and health, while still representing cultural values and traditions.
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Methodology
The approach to a methodology will be a combination of a western and Indigenous methodology. The western methodology approach is more of a scientific data gathering. The data will be collected from reliable resources from journals, published dissertations and analysis. However, Ingenious people do not publically publish and share cultural traditions and beliefs. The data collected are from observations, lived experience and stories passed on.
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Methodology
Western
Non-Traditional Methods
Data + Systems
Reflection + Observation + Lived Experience + Stories + Culture
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Navajo Nation
Current Conditions
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No Clean Water | Running Water
Heating System
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Current Conditions | Heating Heating
89%
of Navajo families use wood or pellet stove
Asthma Respiratory Issues
Exposure to wood + coal buring stoves
Cancers
12 Source: Environmental Health Perspectives / Phase II Housing Needs Assessment + Demographics Analysis
Water
40%
of Navajo families haul water everyday
67x
Navajo pay 67x more for water they haul vs. piped water
67x
Navajo are more likely than other Americans to live without running water or a toilet
Source: The Navajo Water Project
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Water Sourced from Windmills
Contamination Found
Effects
Uranium
Internal Organ + Lung Cancer
E. Coli
Sickness related to Giardia (microscopic parasite that causes the diarrheal illness) + Crytosporidium (parasitic alveolates that can cause a respiratory and gastrointestinal illness)
Arsenic
14 The Dine Environmental Institute at Dine College
Affects a broad range of organs + systems
Case Studies
16
Benally House
Design Build Bluff Bluff, Utah 2007
The Benally House was designed for a Navajo couple in Bluff, Utah. The home is made of natural materials and corrugated steel. The home is designed to be ‘off-grid’ with sustainable design systems, such as, solar radiant heating, gabion cage Trombe wall and rammed earth retaining wall. Although the home is designed to be sustainable, the focus on the project was to incorporate the Navajo culture. A traditional Navajo home is a Hogan, which is a 6 or 8-sided open hexagon with a central hearth. The Benally House is a representation of a modern Hogan with a semi-circle structure and a traditional shade structure. The exterior fire pit is the focal point of the project with designing in respect to the Navajo Creation story. The structure of the home and shade structure point to the four sacred mountains in the Navajo Creation story.
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Te Kura Whare
Jasmax New Zealand 2014
Te Kura Whare is community center that brings together the culture and beliefs of the Nagi Tuhaoe Tribe, while restoring the relationship of the tribe to nature. The Tekura Whare is designed to be an architectural representation of the Nagi Thaoe Tribe through the structure, material and spaces. The background of the design is to learn and respect the land by utilizing local materials and nature’s resources. Local trees from the Tuhoe Rohe forest were used as the columns and arches. This emulates the forest and the role trees play in life’s wellbeing. The arches run along the same direction of the Tama-nut-te-ra (sun) direction from east to west. For the Tuhaoe Tribe, the sun represents making progress each day to reach a goal and to leave the past behind. The biophilic design is to incorporate spirituality, culture and respect for nature through architecture.
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Caring Wood
Macdonald Wright Architects United Kingdom 2016
Caring Wood is a multi-family home designed for multiple families. It is formed in a pinwheel formation, rotating around an inner courtyard. The home consist of family living areas with communal outdoor and indoor spaces. The design utilized natural materials found in that region along with styles derived from the English country house.
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Program | Multi-Generational Home
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-Two Family + Elders -Communal Spaces -Outdoor Courtyard: Ceremonial Purposes or Family Gathering Space
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Biophilic Design Matrix
Created by Matthew Salenger of coLAB Studio
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Major Biophilic Order
Direct Experience with Nature
Minor Biophilic Order
Water
Desired Benefit
• Stress Relief • Enhance Performance + Creativity • Intellectually / Emotionally Stimulating
Design Strategies
• Tie to Natural Water Systems • Fountains • Wetlands, Spouts, ect.
Water as a Blessing
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Major Biophilic Order
Direct Experience with Nature
Minor Biophilic Order
Landscape
Desired Benefit
• Increase Comfort, Health + Productivity • Lower Stress • Higher Morale
Design Strategies
• Tie to Existing Healthy Ecosystems • Native Plant Types + Landscaping • Courtyards
Yucca
Sage
Cedar
Greenthread 24
Major Biophilic Order
Minor Biophilic Order
Desired Benefit
Natural Analogues
Material Connection with Nature
Rammed Earth
• Decrease Blood Pressure • Improve Comfort Natural Wood
Design Strategies
• Accent Details with Natural Materials • Natural Materials with Texture
Sandstone 25
Major Biophilic Order
Experience of Space and Place
Minor Biophilic Order
(Sense of) Place
Desired Benefit
Community + Family
• Foster Emotional Attachment to Place • Intellectually / Emotionally Stimulating Elders
Design Strategies
• Create Coherent Ecological Experience • Integrate Features of Setting and Spaces • Sequential Linking of Spaces • Think: Cotswalds, Small Greek Towns Nature
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Site | Round Rock, Arizona
Round Rock, Arizona is a small community located in the north eastern region of Arizona with a population of 861 and a poverty rate of 38.3% . The community consist of an elementary school serving pre-k to 8th grade, community chapter house, senior center and out of business store. The site location is 8 miles from the elementary school and is dirt road.
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Utah Colorado
Navajo Nation Round Rock
Arizona
New Mexico
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Site
8 Miles
Round Rock
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2.5 Miles
.5 Miles
Site
Neighbors Windmill
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Rock Point -Nearest Clean Water Source and Gas Station
40 Miles
15 Miles
Site
Chinle -Nearest Grocery Store
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Traditional Navajo Hogan
The traditional dwelling of the Navajo people is the Hogan. There are different variations from a male to female Hogan, which is used for different purposes. The Hogan that has inspired this design is the female 6-sided hexagon. The female Hogan is used to raise a family and have ceremonial events, such as weddings and womanhood. There are two diagrams that have influenced the design and I have taken aspects from each to guide the cultural representation of the Navajo people.
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BIRTH EAST THINKING SHAPING THOUGHT + BEHAVIOR LIFE SOUTH PLANNING KINAALDA
LIFE CYCLE
MATERIALS WOOD LOGS MUD / CLAY
WOMENHOOD ENDURANCE GOOD THINKING
NATURE
OLD AGE
KNOWLEDGE ONE RECEIVES FROM THE HEAVENS MALE CEREMONIAL FEMALE
SMOKE HOLE
RAINBOW
WEST DOING DEATH + SPIRIT NORTH REFLECTING
LADDER TO THE HEAVENS
FORM
EAGLES NEST
CEREMONIAL LIVING SPACE 6 OR 8 SIDED POLYGON SYMMETRICAL
ROOF REASONING
CREATION STORY ‘FIRST HOME’ BALANCE
BLESSINGWAY
HEART
ENTRY
BLESSING
KINSHIP
FAMILY
THINKING
HEARTH
BEAUTY
WALLS
SUNG AFTER CONSTRUCTION GOBERNADOR KNOB SACRIFICIAL STONES LAID DOWN IN PRAYER HUERFANO MESA WEALTH VALUE GEMSTONES PROSPERITY
MAIN POLES
FOUR SACRED MOUNTAINS
SKY
MOUNT BLANCA (WHITE) WHITE SHELL EAST MOUNT HESPERUS (BLACK) JET STONE NORTH SAN FRANCISCO PEAKS (YELLOW) ABALONE WEST MOUNT TAYLOR (BLUE) TURQUOISE SOUTH
NAVAJO NATION RESERVATION
PLACE
CULTURAL IDENTITY FOUNDATION
SOLSTICE CONSTELLATIONS EQUINOX SUN TIME
This is a diagram I created from research, knowledge I grew up with, stories, and elders. It shows the depth of knowledge and interconnectedness of the Hogan. The Hogan is the ‘First Home’ from the Navajo Creation Story and each element that makes the Navajo Hogan has a representation. The Hogan is a representation of ‘life’ and the ‘way of life’. I have selected aspects to
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represent in the design paired with biophilia.
CLAN RELATION
Living Equinox -Collection of Crops
W
Summer Solstice -Time to Plant
Planning
Winter Solstice -Navajo String Game -Winter Stories
S
N
Reecting
E
Thinking This sky science diagram by Dr. Henry Fowler from Navajo Technical University tells the story of the form of the Hogan based on constellations, solstice and equinox. The East is the cardinal direction and the doorway always faces east to greet the morning sun. From this opening the solstice and equinox shine on the back wall as a sense of time for seasons and actions that need to be taken.
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Process
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3
4
2 5
1
1
2
3
4
5 39
Mass
Void
Secondary Mass
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Mass
Void
Secondary Mass
Biophilic Order Direct Experience with Nature | Landscape
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Mass
Void
Secondary Mass
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Outdoor Area
Family Living
Kitchen
Dining
Outdoor Area Outdoor Seating
Family Living
Storage Elder Living
Living Area
Patio
Outdoor Area
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Outdoor Area
Family Living
Kitchen Summer Solstice Dining
Outdoor Area Outdoor Seating
Family Living
Storage Elder Living
Outdoor Area
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Patio
Living Area
Equinox
Winter Solstice
E
E
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E
Rain water collected from the roof and stored in a cistern that will then be resourced back into the home.
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E
Rain water collected from the extruding masses and used to water vegetation in the central atrium.
Life Cycle of the Navajo Hogan
The East is the main entry; it greet the morning sun. It is the starting point in life and the entry into the Hogan. We travel clockwise in the Hogan. Starting at the East (Thinking) moving to the South (Planning), West (Living), and North (Reflecting). The solstice and equinox is a sense of time and the actions that need to be taken.
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Living Equinox -Collection of Crops
W
Summer Solstice -Time to Plant
Planning
Winter Solstice -Navajo String Game -Winter Stories
S
N
Reecting
E
Thinking 51
Thinking The East greets the morning sun. It is the representation of the main entry, the start of the day and a new beginning. It represents ‘Thinking’. Thinking about the year and new beginnings. A time to think about life and what life can bring.
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Planning | Summer Solstice The South is ‘Planning’. Planning on your action. Which is indicated by the summer solstice.
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Living | Equinox West is ‘Living’. It is the time to live what you have thought and planned about, indicated by the equinox.
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Winter Solstice Winter Solstice indicates the time for winter stories and ceremonies.
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Reflection North is ‘Reflecting’, reflecting on what was thought, planned, lived through the time cycle of the Navajo Hogan.
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It is a place of Hozho Meaning beauty, balance and harmony. It is a term that defines the Navajo Way of Life that encourages us to go in beauty and to enjoy the gifts of life, nature and health.
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“Place links present with past and our personal self with kinship groups. What we know flows through us from the ‘echo of generations,’ and our knowledge cannot be universalized because they arise from our experience with our places.” -Margaret Kovach, Indigenous Methodology Plains Cree and Saulteaux Ancestry Member of the Pasqua First Nation
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