DENE NAHJO CULTURAL CENTRE

This proposal for the Dene Najho Cultural and Social Innovation Centre is a non-hierarchical village of buildings clustered around a shared courtyard and indoor path. The building attempts to embody the concept of walking in two worlds by contrasting the sculpted Canadian Shield bedrock with rectilinear building form. The building is cantilevered off the bedrock, allowing it to be large enough to house all activities, while maintaining the smallest footprint possible. A walking path brings visitors through the site and under the building itself providing an opportunity to experience being between building and the land. Located on the highest ground between the Prince of Whales Northern Heritage Centre and the Northwest Territories Legislative assembly the cultural centre becomes a permanent landmark for the Dene People.

The building is comprised of five distinct masses, each given over to a unique programmatic activity: celebrating culture (large gathering space & flex space), exchanging culture (cafe & artisan store), practicing culture (tanning & outdoor kitchen), creating culture (workshop & sewing spaces), and recording culture  (reading room & recording studio). The masses are joined by a circulation path providing semi-conditioned circulation and expandable gathering space. At the heart of the building is an outdoor courtyard used for fires, tanning, and ceremony.