Archinect - Features

Incorporating Culture Into Design: How Lessons Learned From Tribal Clients Shaped the Architecture of the Choctaw Nation Headquarters

2022-10-10T14:13:00-04:00

As architects, we are charged with creating spaces that not only meet our clients' functional needs but also present an aesthetic that embodies who the client is and what matters to them. When determining that aesthetic, a client's culture often becomes a key consideration. And while it may be tempting these days to rely on Google searches about the history of a certain heritage to save time, the most successful designers that incorporate culture respectfully and artfully take the time to listen and learn directly from their clients as they begin each new project.

Reflecting on America's Perception of Indigenous Architecture With Tammy Eagle Bull

2021-06-09T08:42:00-04:00

Tammy Eagle Bull, FAIA, AICAE, NCARB, is an architect and President of the firm Encompass Architects based in Lincoln, Nebraska, which she co-founded in 2002. She is a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, and a graduate of Arizona State University and the University of Minnesota. This discussion occurred between March and May of 2021 and explored the changes that have occurred in the past 40 years where Ms. Eagle Bull has been involved in the architecture industry, since the time she first began studying architecture through the challenges of this past year.

University of Melbourne Graduate Naveen John Thomas Pays Homage to Australia's Indigenous Communities

2020-08-18T13:18:00-04:00

Pulling focus towards the history of aboriginal cultures in Australia, University of Melbourne M.Arch graduate Naveen John Thomas used his thesis "MEMORIAL REPRESENTATION REMEMBRANCE" to highlight the importance of incorporating culture and history within architectural design and narrative.

Thomas shares, "the recent events around the killing of Mr. Floyd in the US and similar reports from Australia regarding the percentage of imprisoned among the First Nation population, only reiterates the importance of acknowledgement of the past, living with that acknowledgement and respect in the present and planning for the future [...] The aim should be to make the architecture communicate. It should communicate the stories, the history, and the purpose." Archinect connected with Thomas to discuss his thesis project and his observations with how the pandemic has influenced Australia and the architecture industry as a whole.

Archinect's Spotlight on 2020 Thesis Projects: 2020 has been an extra...

ASU Graduate Selina Martinez Highlights the Influence of Indigenous Worldviews on Architecture

2020-07-16T14:32:00-04:00

Finding a "balance between the sacred and mundane" has been a driving force for recent M.Arch graduate Selina Martinez. As she completes her academic journey and steps into her career, Martinez emphasizes the role indigenous cultures have on the built environment. In her thesis BACHIA, she focuses on "prioritizing the survival of Yaqui communities, culture, and knowledge" and how this investigation within indigenous communities impacts infrastructure.

A recent graduate from Arizona State University, Martinez shares her experiences of navigating the completion of her thesis during a pandemic and discusses adjusting her workflow via remote learning. We also discuss her thoughts on the architecture industry and how her passions have given her a specific perspective on the future of employment. "I think it is obvious that we need to uplift diversity in these fields, as a lot of architecture schools are still led by white men and continue to teach 'Bauhaus' design processes that disregar...

This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land—COVID-19’s Impact on Indian Country

2020-07-03T14:45:00-04:00

As we prepare for the 4th of July holiday, we take this time to honor our brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers. We reflect on what our relations fought for—these Indigenous lands which were stolen and used to create massive amounts of wealth for a privileged few, creating what we now call the United States of America. We acknowledge that not only do Native Americans serve in our armed forces at higher rates than any other demographic to date—we are also one of the most hard-hit communities during the coronavirus pandemic. For Indian Country, the problem is more than a lack of supplies and an overwhelmed health care system. A housing crisis is fanning the flames of a highly contagious virus, illuminating the role that housing has on our health.

Did we fight to end one form of oppression only to leave our families languishing under another?