Dorte Mandrup has joined forces with Guy Architects and together have been selected to design the new Inuit Heritage Centre in the territory of Nunavut in northern Canada.
The purpose of this cultural center is to become a symbol of cultural conciliation and a symbol of the continuation of Inuit practices, traditions, and values.
The building will be incorporated into the landscape, offering its roof as a natural outdoor gathering space with expansive views over the tundra.
Covered in rock and turf, the roof blurs the lines between the building and the terrain, creating a seamless continuation of the lines that define the landscape.
Carved into the protective rock, the center becomes a shelter for sensitive collections and exhibits.
Additionally, an open slit allows for the creation of a daylit space for gatherings and community activities.
The center will also feature a café, workshop areas, conservation lab, daycare center, hostel, offices, shops, and ample outdoor amenities for traditional practices such as carving, kayak building, tool making, and berry picking.
“Working within this context requires both extreme sensitivity and consideration of landscape and its cultural significance, “states Dorte Mandrup, founder and creative director of Dorte Mandrup.
“The community has been working tirelessly for a long time to establish a place for Inuit to collect precious heritage and share unique, specialized knowledge that remains imperative for future generations and is at severe risk of vanishing. We are looking very much forward to listening, learning, and being the link between thought and form.”
The Nunavut Inuit Heritage Centre focuses on the living heritage and the continuity of the Inuit culture and language, supporting the preservation and exhibition of cultural belongings.
It will be located on the northern edge of the city of Iqaluit, the territorial capital of the Nunavut, the largest and northernmost territory of Canada, stretching across the Canadian Arctic region, which was officially separated from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999.
The name Nunavut means “our land” in the Inuit language of Inuktitut.
The project is expected to be completed by 2027.
Project: Nunavut Inuit Heritage Center
Architects: Dorte Mandrup
Lead Architect: Dorte Mandrup
Architect of Record: Guy Architects
Renderings: Courtesy of Dorte Mandrup
