A Home of Our Own

Housing across Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) territory is primarily of a singular standardized, suburban form that has been proven to be inappropriate for the climate, geography and lifeways of the territory. A Home of Our Own sought to understand housing forms specific to youth of the region, through a number of design-based workshops. Happening alongside Creating a Home for Our Youth, this project understood that youth are a diverse group with a variety of housing preferences and through studies of space, light, relationships, storage and safety, looked to develop design principles.

Guided by curiosity, the project began by asking:

What forms of housing are appropriate for youth in NAN territory? How do NAN youth understand safety in housing and community development? What are the different forms of housing that youth identify as missing from the current housing system?

Who was involved?

The project involved engaging primarily with youth between 16-29 years of age in NAN territory, including members of the Oshkaatisak Youth Council and service providers in institutions related to housing were secondary informants in the project.

What was TDL’s role?

TDL took the lead in hosting design-focused workshops both in-person and virtually. Workshop findings were analyzed to develop multiple streams of design principles which were used to establish models of housing for youth. The iterative workshop process allowed learnings from various events to build on one another creating a dialogue between youth within the territory.

Workshop learnings were complimented by a review of northern, youth-specific housing models. This review of existing forms focused on relationships between shared and private spaces, indoor and outdoor spaces and other components that served to inform potential models and activities in the workshops.

What types of engagement occurred?

Design Workshops

Conducted in community, at regional events, and virtually, multiple design workshops engaged young people in activities and games that related to housing design. These activities were designed based on the specific context of the territory and using learnings from Creating a Home for Our Youth.

What was learned?

Youth have unique and nuanced housing needs that extend beyond a single housing typology.

A specific model of housing was fully developed which followed the preferences of single youth who were often forced into couch surfing or forced relocation into cities under the current model. Priorities and preferences for other forms of housing were recorded for future development.