'Kanata 2000' Community, Mohawk Territory, Kahnawake, QC

Client

An affordable sustainable strawbale housing prototype and plan for a 30 unit, 10-acre sustainable community.

Sustainability for First Nations communities implies a rationalization of the decision-making process, increased communication between departments, and a balance of long-term affordability and quality with regard to both house design and community master planning. In 1998 a project, dubbed 'Kanata 2000' was initiated in Kahnawake, Quebec to address severe housing related problems by empowering the community with the tools and models to choose a sustainable shelter and lifestyle.

Concept

By taking an ecological approach early in our design process, we take full advantage of all the site’s possibilities. All buildings are designed to benefit from natural ventilation, passive solar and radiant floor heating, as well as solar heated hot-water. As well, non-toxic and low-embodied energy materials and a biological (pond) and mechanical (Waterloo biofilter) water treatment system for grey and black water was used. Our prototype also demonstrates numerous advantages related to strawbale use, namely the R-40 insulation coefficient of its roof and wall assemblies.      

This project is also innovative in transposing the healthy house concept to the scale of an integrated housing development. We have been able to save up to two-thirds in infrastructure costs by only using, in terms of land use, a third what a classical development would. This approach preserves the natural characteristics of the site, namely all the trees on the woody site.

The R-40 prototype is tailored to the budgets of the Mohawk community, through principles of sustainable design and construction. The neighbourhood demonstrates principles of environment protection in a suburban context with its minimization of road surface and the preservation of existing vegetation. All houses are oriented 15 degrees south-south-east to benefit winter solar gains, also maximising intimacy in the single family dwellings. Solar hot water panels are planned on the roofs (installed by NRCAN on the demonstration home). The houses, organized around communal green spaces and grey water filtration ponds, are placed to facilitate building extensions and encourage neighbourly interaction and activities.

DESIGN PRINICIPLES:
1. Economy of land use through increased density, smaller roads, and designated community space. These strategies are needed both to permit the preservation of family groupings, the nurturing of community spirit, and preservation of the natural environment.

2. Innovative water supply and treatment system based on grouped deep well supply, and grouped biological treatment systems with mechanical aeration and polishing pond. In addition to inherent social and ecological benefits, both water and treatment systems ensure better quality and reduced short and long term costs over conventional centralized systems.

3. Planting and grading for technical, social, ecological and economic benefits. Minimal site clearing and re-grading, sustainable indigenous planting of landscape including edible plants, ground cover (no-maintenance), design for passive solar gain in homes, summer shade and wind breaks, elimination of culverts and management of site run-off through planted swales, holding nursery for plant transplants.

4. Design for growth. Strategic siting to permit additions to individual homes as well as future second home for extended family on one ¼ acre plot.

The scope of the Kanata 2000 project offers significant potential on a universal scale with regard to the innovative and sensitive application of sustainable and affordable housing within a community context. 

Publications

Awards and Grants

CMHC publicity funding 

Indian Affairs Department Grant

REDI Program (NRCAN)