Cultural Sustainability: Constellation of Forces | Independent Thesis by Rhonda Harvey

Cultural Sustainability

Constellation of Forces

Rhonda Harvey Advisor: Wanda Dalla Costa

Concept

I wanted to explore the concept of cultural sustainability focusing on the wellbeing of individuals as a result of the everyday built environment within Native communities, specifically the Navajo community. I am Navajo.

I feel there’s been a loss in culture and practicing traditional ways of living.

I want to explore designing a well community, a Navajo community.

Issue

From my experience growing up on the Navajo Nation, I’ve seen buildings and homes that do not resemble the culture and lifestyle of the Navajo people. These homes become dilapidated quickly and are not suitable for the climate. They are not taken care of, there’s no pride in them.

Solution

There is so much beauty and knowledge that existing in the traditional teachings and practices of Navajo culture. These are some of the significant cultural elements that I explored in my design.

• • • • • • •

Designing with the summer solstice and winter equinox Understanding the four sacred directions Understanding the Navajo Hogan Designing with nature, respecting the land Utilizing natural materials (wood, earth, rock) Using colors and textures that are significant to the culture Using the land and vegetation as a color palette

1

History & Existing Conditions

2

Methodology & Research

3

Application: A Healthy Navajo Community?

History of HUD 1887 Dawes Act solidified many actions by creating federally recognized reservations and the division of land.

• Systemization of reservations • Built environment and landscape forced upon them • Generations of assimilation programs and land reallocation By 1970, Native Americans across the country were living in the same standard house provided by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. These houses were void of cultural significance, and were replicated across the country, disconnected from climate and culture. From their high chair in Washington D.C., a small architecture office designed the plan and the orientation of tribal housing as a “one size fits all” approach, and implemented it across the country.

Greene, Josh. Shifting Cultures: The Storytelling House, 2015. Arizona State University. Creative Undergraduate Thesis.

D. S. Otis, and Francis Paul, The Dawes act and the allotment of Indian lands.

History & Existing Conditions

Impact on Navajo Communities The Built Environment “One size fits all” Has led to the issues of: • Crime • Not well maintaned • Dull, lifeless streets • Not designed for the climate, region or culture • Does not fit with the Navajo way of life • Poor health (poor ventilation, insufficient natural lighting, heating problems, cold tile floors)

History & Existing Conditions

Navajo Nation Housing Need Assessment (Demographics) Housing Need: 34,000 units

Veterans: 4% Disabled Persons: 15%

Population: 212,216 (2010 Census) On-Reservation: 197,472 (2005) Off-Reservation: 91,210 (2005)

Population projection for 2030: CEDS: 314,720 (if economic development occurs on the Navajo Nation)

Age:

Census: 241,620

20-44 yrs old at 32% of population.

45-64 yrs old at 21% 5-14 yrs old at 18%

More people means more homes needed!

15-19 yrs old at 11%

Gender: 52% Female 48% Male

Housing Unit Type: Single-Family is at 77% Multi-Family is at 4% Mobile Homes is at 19%

The Jones Payne Group, Inc. Phase II Housing Needs Assessment and Demographic Analysis, Prepared for: Navajo Housing Authority. August 2011.

History & Existing Conditions

What is Indigenous Architecture?

Pertaining to Hirini Matunga, a planner and a Maori of New Zealand. He states what Indigenous Architecture is, “It is architecture from within the people of this place and their relationship with each other, their cultural values, knowledge and principles, their land, environment, geography and climate. It is architecture using their natural resources, materials and construction methods and introduced materials, technologies and approaches adapted, adopted and nuanced to their cultural and social needs. It is also architecture embedded in an ever-evolving Indigenous people and place-based aesthetic using their palette, colors, designs, patterns, geometry, sculptural forms and shapes. In other words, an architecture ultimately redolent of their narrative about their relationships with their place– now, back in time and into the future” ​(Matunga 2018, pg 308)

Greene, Josh. Shifting Cultures: The Storytelling House, 2015. Arizona State University. Creative Undergraduate Thesis.

Research & Methodology

Native Science Natural Laws of Interdependence, Gregory Cajete

PSYCHOLOGY OF PLACE “Native people represented the deepest level of psychological involvement with their land and which provided a kind of map of the soul.”

“Separation by forced relocation in the last century constituted, literally, the loss of part of an entire generations’ soul....loss of meaning and identity.”

Research & Methodology

What is a Navajo Community?

Research & Methodology

What is a Navajo Community?

Research & Methodology

Research & Methodology

Existing Housing Typologies

Favored Housing

Scattered Housing

Not Favorable

Farm Community

Family Compound

Community Housing

Research & Methodology

Existing Housing Typologies Sweet Spot

Favored Housing

Scattered Housing

Not Favorable

Farm Community

Family Compound

Community Housing

Research & Methodology

Past Wisdom Housing Typologies

Pueblo Bonita

Cliff Palace Take Aways: Denser Community Development 3 - 4 stacked layers (each level gets adequate amount of sunlight and air) Central Gathering Space Observation of the sky Strategic but organic Natural Materials

Research & Methodology

Constellation of Forces Observing Father Sky

Research & Methodology

Listening to Mother Earth

Research & Methodology

Build this Way

Research & Methodology

Site Plan Concept Places for ceremony

Central Gathering Space

Agricultural Plots for solar gain Recreational Activity

Multi-Family Housing Site Entrance Multi-Generational Housing

Application: What is a Healthy Navajo Community?

Site Plan W

N Trail Network System

Sweatlodge

Shared Parking Multi-Family

Open Space

Central Gathering Housing Clusters

Sweatlodge Farming Plots

Connect to existing community Site Entrance

S

E

Application: What is a Healthy Navajo Community?

Home Space Adjency Program NIGHT TIME SLEEP BEDROOMS

SLEEP ADULTHOOD RESPONSIBILITIES KITCHEN BATH COOK

SLEEP

GATHER/PRAY CEREMONY

OUTDOOR GATHERING SPACE FIREPLACE SEATING/SHADE COVER EAST FACING ENTRANCE MOVE IN CLOCK-WISE DIRECTION

EAT

LIVE

VEGETATION/GARDEN/LANDSCAPING ON THE SOUTH SIDE LIVING/ACTIVE

Application: What is a Healthy Navajo Community?

Multi-Family (3 story, 1-3 bedrooms) PROVIDES FOR THE DESPARATE NEED OF HOUSING CREATES A COMMUNITY SETTING

APPEALING TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION

SLEEP

FITTING FOR THE SMALLER FAMILIES AND/OR SINGLE INDIVIDUALS

SLEEP

GATHER/PRAY CEREMONY

SLEEP COOK EAT

LIVE

B B

A

Ground Level

A

B

A

2nd Level

B

A

B

A

3rd Level

A

B

Application: What is a Healthy Navajo Community?

Multi-Family (3 story, 1-3 bedrooms)

SECTION A

SECTION B

EAST ELEVATION

Application: What is a Healthy Navajo Community?

Multi-Generational Home PROVIDES FOR THE OVERCROWDED FAMILIES KEEPS THE CLOSE-KNIT FAMILIES TOGETHER

A SAFE, COMFORTING PLACE FOR GRANDMA AND GRANDPA

A

B

SLEEP

SLEEP

SLEEP

SLEEP

GATHER/PRAY CEREMONY

SLEEP COOK

B

EAT LIVE

A

SECTION A

SECTION B

EAST ELEVATION

Application: What is a Healthy Navajo Community?

Elder/Veteran Homes PROVIDES FOR THE ELDERS AND VETERANS ADA ACCESSIBLE

MORE TRADITIONAL, CLOSE TO A HOGAN SMALLER FOOTPRINT

A

SLEEP

GATHER/PRAY CEREMONY

EAT COOK

LIVE

A

SECTION A

EAST ELEVATION

Application: What is a Healthy Navajo Community?

Application: What is a Healthy Navajo Community?

Application: What is a Healthy Navajo Community?

Application: What is a Healthy Navajo Community?

Application: What is a Healthy Navajo Community?

Application: What is a Healthy Navajo Community?

Application: What is a Healthy Navajo Community?

What is a Navajo Community?

Conclusion