Indigenous concepts of ‘home’ are multidimensional and often extend beyond the physical and social environments where people live. Although there are diverse Indigenous cultures across the world, fundamental ideals of ‘home’ are shared amongst many of these communities. Most housing options in colonised countries have tended to promote values of individualisation and nuclear family units; public housing policies and architectural designs have often been imposed on indigenous communities based on non-indigenous ideals of good housing. However, more recently, original values and collective forms of living have been re-emerging across the globe, with many successful examples of collective housing in urban and rural contexts. This paper presents findings from a study carried out in Aotearoa New Zealand and Chile which investigated contemporary housing solutions co-designed with Indigenous communities. Case studies from the two countries are explored, and interviews with architects reveal key lessons learned in participatory practices with residents. The findings show differences and similarities across the Pacific, highlighting valuable shared principles that can be applied to various forms of housing for a sustainable future. These concepts include multigenerational living, connection to the natural environment, and shared spaces and strategies to create a real sense of community in contemporary housing. The lessons learned on participatory processes can be valuable for designers working with regenerative collective housing across the world.
Priscila Besen: Lecturer in sustainable and regenerative architecture at Auckland University of Technology. Priscila completed her Bachelor of Architecture and Urbanism at UFSC, Brazil, and her Master and PhD in Sustainable Architecture at The University of Auckland. Her research, teaching and practice aim to develop better design practices to create regenerative, healthy, liveable built environments for a post-carbon future. She integrates life-cycle thinking into built environment design through her research on post-occupancy evaluation, co-design, life-cycle energy performance, adaptive reuse and retrofit.
Iván Ivelic Yanes: Dr. from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos de Madrid, Spain, he is currently a professor at the School of Architecture and Design PUCV in which he has worked since 1995. Member and inhabitant of the Open City of Amereida since 1970 until today, where he has contributed to the discipline in the exploration of new ways to think and develop architecture collectively and under an artistic conception.
Sibyl Bloomfield (Waikato, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Rārua, Ngai Te Rangi): A landscape architect and Senior Lecturer in Huri te Ao / School of Future Environments at AUT in the Architecture and Future Environments programme. Primary researcher in Marsden-funded research project: Nature-based Urban design for Wellbeing and Adaptation in Oceania (NUWAO). Sibyl’s teaching and research practice is grounded in a commitment to shaping our place in the world by engaging in Te Ao Māori, Te Moana nui a Kiwa identity, and diversity, and actively responding to the ecological, socio-cultural and climate crises of the Anthropocene.
Claudio Aguayo: An Associate Professor in Digital Innovation in Education in Te Ara Poutama, the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Development at Auckland University of Technology. As a biologist trained in the Santiago school of cognition with a PhD in Education, Claudio draws on three distinct interdisciplinary areas: complexity science, education and technology, and cognitive sciences to explore how digital tools can be best designed to enhance human experience in learning environments. Claudio is the Director of Research & Development for AUT’s AppLab, where he leads the exploration of the design and application of cutting-edge digital technologies for learning in a range of educational settings;
Carol Hernandez: worked as research assistants on this research project at PUCV.
Carolina Varela: worked as research assistants on this research project at PUCV.
Cristobal Jorquera worked as research assistants on this research project at PUCV.
Oliver Brockie: worked as research assistants on this research project at AUT.
Caleb Mokomoko: worked as research assistants on this research project at AUT.
Madeleine Grimshaw worked as research assistants on this research project at AUT.