Richard Kroeker

Northern Housing

Boreal Forests

This is an on-going research project to develop a housing system for the boreal forest regions of Canada that would use locally available small diameter spruce trees and small dimensioned, locally sawn wood. The houses could be built with local skill, addressing high unemployment in these regions, and would minimise the amount of material that need to be shipped in from outside. The wall system would avoid cavity wall problems of mold growth and leave the structure exposed for continuous monitoring. The section of the building facilitates heat recovery ventilation in the winter and summer passive ventilation. The overall strategy of building with local bent green wood and maximum use of local materials is based on a study of indigenous long house and lodge structures. It is a way to making house construction and maintenance part of generating a local economy.