Imagining Sustainable Planning for Nunavik Villages
This article presents the results of a collaborative urban design process to imagine tangible and sustainable visions for two Inuit villages of Nunavik. Considering data on the cultural and environmental adaptation of living environments, the proposals are based on in situ observations, shared Indigenous knowledge, concepts of northern planning, and the advice of experts and local informants. How might we plan an adequate supply of housing and collective spaces to consolidate built environments and simultaneously adapt to local practices and extreme weather conditions? What forms can these environments take while respecting environmental, social and organizational constraints? The proposed projects foster knowledge regarding northern planning challenges: on the urban components and landscapes that underpin the identity of the villages; on the role, occupation and adaptability of shared places; on the perception of density, and on the acceptability of alternative ways to organize residential areas.