Douglas J. Cardinal Ltd. was commissioned to develop an
architectural design for Oujé-Bougoumou in 1993. At a cost
of $45M, the project was completed in 1999. That same year, the
United Nations recognized his commission of Oujé-Bougoumou
with the award of "model human settlement."
Following his design philosophy, Cardinal and his team of
architects consulted the Cree people of Oujé-Bougoumou to
develop an understanding of their unique needs in the community.
The initial concept for the village encompassed the housing,
school, offices, community center, elders' residences, nurses'
residences, clinic, and church. They all had to relate to each
other. Conical shapes were used to emphasize the importance of the
large gathering spaces. A circular pattern was used to organize the
clusters of traditional forms to create a sense of community.
Construction focused on procedures to employ a maximum of local
labour and cost-effective design. Today, Oujé-Bougoumou is
heated with a District Heated System of a central boiler house
equipped with two boilers. One has dual fuel capabilities for wood
and oil, with the combustion system burning wood waste from a
nearby sawmill. The second boiler is a backup boiler, which kicks
in at peak loads. This heating system played a large role in the
community's self-sufficiency that uses local energy sources, and
burns renewable energy resources of biomass.
|
Interactive
Version