Engrained: Re-imagining the Past Heavy Timber Vision of Squamish for Today's Landscapes

Abstract

This thesis aims to make a vision which existed in the past be alive on its own terms today.

This work celebrates the past heavy timber cultural practices of British Columbia’s old-growth forestry towns, while acknowledging a shift in the current architectural climate. A situationally-focused intervention in Squamish, British Columbia, aims to re-introduce locally-assembled spaces that respond to contemporary changing conditions in order to express the timber culture relevantly today.

This research identifies the original use of the forests and its inhabitants, how its resources were used, and how the environment exists today. This work will pull from the advancements made in timber technologies, while preserving the built memory and design principles of the place. The objective is to activate the memory of the timber building culture in Squamish while creating a space that engages nature, culture, and history.