The Kwakiutl First Nation, of the Kwakwaka' wakw Tribe, inhabit the north part of Vancouver Island. The use of wood in building, and as part of daily life and survival, is an integral part of their heritage and culture. During the past 10,000 years of known history they have developed sophisticated art and construction technology using the versatile wood properties of the Pacific Rain Forest.
The ambition for this project was to embody these values in the creation of a new Wagalus School in which to reinforce the renaissance of their language and culture in teaching the current and future generations of children. The transfer of cultural values of significance into the design solutions was accomplished through a series of design charrettes with great participation of community members (around 160 people attending) including Chief and Council, elders, artists, teachers and the future users of the school - the children.
To create a symbiotic relationship between the interiors and the natural surroundings and to appreciate the natural light, the sun rays are welcomed to penetrate the building on their daily path evoking a positive ambience within the high-volume areas as well as the individual classrooms. Nature, in this way, can virtually be appreciated as much inside as outside.
To minimize the negative effects of a rainy west coast climate and to accelerate the construction process, the gymnasium was designed as a system of prefabricated wood tilt- up panels that were raised on a slab-on-grade within 5 days, and the partially prefabricated wood roof was erected the following week.
The Kwakiutl Wagalus school was a true community effort with many members participating in the construction and an apprenticeship training program. The School was completed on time and within the approved budget on September 6, 2016.