Chamasma = “It’s Tasty”

The Huu-ay-aht people have lived on the west coast of Vancouver Island, BC, in what is now known as Bamfield, for millenia. Notably, their ancestral summer home, Kiix̣in, contains some of the only indigenous house remains from before colonial settlers forced them off their land. Kept as a secret for decades to protect it from destruction or exploitation, the Huu-ay-aht now invite people to take guided tours of the site. The studio was invited by the Huu-ay-aht to propose a new visitor centre and experiential walk to help mitigate the effects of greater tourism.

Our proposal revolves around the concept of food over time, and the seasonal bounty that enabled the Huu-ay-aht to flourish here since time immemorial. Reciprocal tending of the garden, forest, and sea foregrounds the indigenous practices that kept the nation fed and the landscapes healthy.

The material palette of the building and boardwalks is comprised of small diameter hemlock, a less economical by-product of the forestry industry that modern Huu-ay-aht participate in. These materials are then “charred” (shou sugi ban), and “pickled” (acetylated) to improve their resilience in the face of the cold, wet west coast climate.

Contributions included material research, illustrated site plan, landscape and building design, forest and sea section diagrams, and model building.