Literature Review on Building Envelope, Heating and ... - Beeshive.org

concentrated in a few integrated spaces in the house, such as living rooms and
kitchens, which reflects the different cultural values of Inuit with regard to
individuality and privacy. The activities of Euro-Canadian families are more widely
dispersed throughout the house. The lifestyle of Inuit families needs to be considered
in their house designs.
• Houses built over the past 30 years in Northern Canada indicated a trend toward floor
plans that are increasingly subdivided with a greater number of smaller rooms. This
resulted in limiting visual information and interaction among family members as they
spread in the house. The house plans with smaller rooms are not compatible with the
lifestyle of the Inuit families as spaces are often too small to accommodate the
family’s collective activities.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (2003-3) made several recommendations.
• Construct houses with more open floor plans. Eliminate long central corridors from
which rooms are accessed. Instead, smaller rooms (bedrooms, utility rooms, etc.)
should open directly onto a single, large space. Integrate the kitchen and living room
into a large space, because most family activities take place in the living room and
kitchen.
• Include a large enclosed porch as necessitated by hunting and fishing activities.
• Construct single-floor houses, as they are favoured over multi-story houses, because a
single floor increases visual interaction. It also would reduce the overheating problem
of the second floor in the summer months.
• Include a ventilation system that accommodates the large amounts of condensation
released during the preparation of traditional foods.
PERD-079: Task 2 - <strong>Literature</strong> <strong>Review</strong> 89