Gitwangak Gathering Centre + Family Housing
Warm and comfortable homes that are connected to important cultural spaces.
Kitwanga, BC
Client BC Housing, Gitwangak Band
Scope SD, DD
Status Complete
Pete Atkinson, Jamie Banks, Adryn Galambos, Charlea Greig, Bruce Haden, Heidi Nesbitt, Piotr Tomanek
The Gitwangak Housing Project is nestled in a spectacular mountain valley in a remote area of northern BC. Because apartment living does not support traditional food gathering preparation or storage, a community kitchen has been included for members and their extended families. Each home is also provided with a large deep freezer and pantry, to help with food security and to acknowledge the generosity of traditional food sharing practices.
Close collaboration with a construction manager, the Gitwangak Band, elders and knowledge keepers, BC Housing and the modular fabricator resulted in a creative solution that will be cost-effective, while also expressing the identity of the Gitwangak.
