The Unacknowledged Impact of Indigenous Design on Sustainable Architecture

Written by: Louise Deltheil

Edited by: Iris Bisson

Sustainable Architecture: How New Is It Truly?

In architecture school, sustainable architecture is often synonymous with green architecture. It is the idea of designing buildings that will limit the impact on the Earth’s resources and climate. In western dialect, the concept was first popularized in the 1970s and, by the 1990s, the term green architecture had become common in discourses (Mutuli, 2025).

The main objective of sustainable architecture is to reduce a building’s energy consumption. Architects and engineers can implement passive techniques to achieve this, such as using sunlight and natural ventilation. They can also build with recycled and natural materials, like straw, to reduce resource depletion. Additionally, green roofs are a very popular technique because they help integrate a design with its surroundings, especially if they use local vegetation (Mutuli, 2025).

All of these techniques can be combined in different ways to create sustainable buildings that will have less impact on the environment than regular construction does today. In some ways, sustainable architecture involves a “return to the basics” (Rathore, 2024). Unfortunately, when discussing this topic, architects and engineers emphasize the novelty of these innovations, and consequently, erase the impact Indigenous knowledge has on sustainable architecture. 

What is Indigenous knowledge? 

Before continuing, it is important to define what Indigenous knowledge really means to properly understand its impact on sustainable architecture. Indigenous knowledge describes the entirety of knowledge and skills shared by Indigenous communities over generations, especially knowledge influenced by the surrounding environment. In terms of architecture, Indigenous knowledge describes traditional building techniques and local material uses (DeBurca, 2023).

How has Indigenous knowledge influenced sustainable architecture? 

Architects focused on sustainability unknowingly utilize traditional Indigenous building techniques alongside green technologies to create eco-friendly buildings. For example, the usage of rammed earth has become more popular to create better insulation and reduce energy consumption. However, for centuries, mud had already been used to create bricks for buildings because of the material’s thermal properties, abundance, and low cost (DeBurca, 2023).

The concept of ‘Building with Nature’ comes directly from Indigenous knowledge. It involves creating designs that can coexist with nature (DeBurca, 2023). The term ‘Biophilic design’, meaning inspired by nature, is another more recently named principle that has become popular, and is directly related to Indigenous design principles (DeBurca, 2023).

Although Indigenous knowledge can be combined with sustainable architecture to create innovative green buildings, Indigenous architecture is already considered environmentally friendly. Buildings constructed with Indigenous design principles use local and renewable materials while keeping local climate in mind. For instance, they use passive heating and cooling techniques, natural insulation, strategic orientation, amongst many other designs, all to maximize energy efficiency (EcoConstruct Solutions, 2025).

Some natural materials, such as bamboo, wood, adobe, and straw bale, are good alternatives to common materials like cement and steel and have already been used in Indigenous architecture for centuries. Furthermore, another advantage of incorporating Indigenous knowledge in sustainable architecture is that traditional building techniques rely less on machinery, effectively reducing the energy consumption on a construction site (DeBurca, 2023).

Around the world, there are plenty of successful modern designs that showcase the combination of Indigenous knowledge with sustainable architecture. When Indigenous architecture is implemented with purpose, designers and architects from many backgrounds can come together to create buildings that respect Indigenous culture and the local environment. Two examples of these designs are located in Whistler and Osoyoos.

Case study #1: Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler, British Columbia 

This centre was designed to showcase the cultures of the Squamish and Lil’wat nations, by taking inspiration from the longhouses of the Squamish and the traditional earthen pit houses, called Istkens, of the Lil’wat.

The building is a great example of how successful the combination of Indigenous knowledge with sustainable architecture can be. The design uses a green roof full of native species, a controlled lighting system, and local wood to reduce the energy consumption of the building, while also respecting the cultures of the Squamish and Lil’wat nations (Naturallywood, 2010).

Case study #2: Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre in Osoyoos, British Columbia

This centre is built in the biggest desert region of Canada, and therefore, aims to respect its surrounding landscape. The building is partially buried, which greatly helps control the indoor temperature and is oriented in a way to receive the best amount of sunlight with the correct amount of warmth. 

This building also has the largest rammed earth wall in North America, which helps retain warmth in the winter and cool in the summer. The design also uses a green roof to support the native species and help integrate the building into the landscape (DIALOG, 2014).

Conclusion

Integrating Indigenous knowledge into future sustainable designs will create stronger and more efficient green buildings. In addition, acknowledging and respecting the value of Indigenous architecture will positively impact communities. Investing in Indigenous-led projects, such as the Indigenous Hub in Toronto, creates job opportunities, more safe spaces, and encourages education across generations and communities (EcoConstruct Solutions, 2025).

In conclusion, the inclusion of Indigenous architecture in western architecture, an effort which starts with education, is advantageous on all fronts, improving green technologies and designs, while also fostering community ties between cultures.

References

De Burca, J. (2023, August 14). Building with nature: Sustainability in Indigenous architectural practices. Constructive Voices. https://constructive-voices.com/building-with-nature-sustainability-in-indigenous-architectural-practices/. 

De Burca, J. (2023, September 6). Indigenous knowledge and sustainable architecture: A global perspective. Constructive Voices. https://constructive-voices.com/indigenous-knowledge-and-sustainable-architecture-a-global-perspective/. 

DIALOG. (2014, May 23). Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/508294/nk-mip-desert-cultural-centre-dialog. 

EcoConstruct Solutions. (2025, March 9). The role of Indigenous architecture in Canada’s urban future. EcoConstruct Solutions. https://ecoconstructsolutions.com/the-role-of-indigenous-architecture-in-canadas-urban-future. 

Mutuli, I. (2025, September 7). Sustainable architecture: History, characteristics, and examples. Archute. https://www.archute.com/sustainable-architecture/. 

Naturallywood. (2010, October). Case study: Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre. https://www.naturallywood.com/wp-content/uploads/squamish-lilwat-cultural-centre-case-study-oct2010-naturallywood.pdf. 

Rathore, R. (2024, December 24). Decoding sustainable architecture through Indigenous design practices. Rethinking The Future. https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/sustainable-architecture/a13583-decoding-sustainable-architecture-through-indigenous-design-practices/.