Building Opportunities in Canada's North
Canada's north is thought to held the future riches because it holds many of the country’s natural resources. Forces shaping industry in the North include mineral discovery, climate change and diversification of the workforce. Canada's north is currently experiencing a population boom, which brings many unique challenges and opportunities to this delicate yet harsh environment. Housing is one of them.
Canada is trying to sustainably nurture this area of the country while respecting tradition and the environment. Appropriate housing is a major challenge in this section of the country. Paradigms from the "south" are not applicable in the north. Considerations for architecture and building in the north include:
Logistics: Every component needs to be brought in from the south during the warmer season. Failing to deliver a large item could result in costly delays or even costlier transport via plane. Buildings need to be very well conceived and extremely organized, and be designed for rapid assembly.
Circulation and pumping: The Earth freezes to a depth of 2-3 metres, so conventional underground piping is forbidden. Freshwater needs to run in insulated conduits kept in constant motion. Many homes are still frequented by trucks bringing in fresh water and taking away the "grey" water.
Topsoil: Topsoil is often frozen, but if you put a heated building directly on the ground, the zone of thawed soil develops. This affects the stability of the permafrost and can damage buildings. This is happening more and more as a result of the general global warming trend.
Siting: Buildings need to be built next to each other to block wind. The long axis of the building needs to be aligned with the wind and raised above the ground to create a space to prevent snow accumulation on the other side. Deflectors for the wind are necessary and building entrances need to be considered because locks can freeze. Sunlight must also be maximized.
Cultural Considerations: There is usually no fences in Northern Communities, and people share common areas openly. Tents are still used as summer dwellings for Aboriginals, and winter equipment needs to be stored for the summer. Artwork, hunting and fishing sustain many communities, so appropriate studios and traditional processing facilities need to be included in the community design.
Energy-Efficency needs to be considered because of the high cost of transporting oil, and comfort of inhabitants needs to remain high in the challenging environment.
Landscaping: A surprising amount of species can survive the weather and need to be included in community and building plans.
The need for housing in Canada’s North is considered to be staggering, and opportunities for companies with expertise are opening up in this industry. Norway’s experience with building in northern conditions, including prefabrication and energy efficiency will be strengths that Innovation Norway in Canada can help Norwegian companies with in this exciting age of growth.
Drawing of a social housing row in Nunavut by architect Avi Friedman, Director of Affordable Homes program at McGill University