Kinark Sustainable Living Center

The Kinark Sustainable Living Centre was constructed using either locally-sourced materials, or harvesting resources directly from the 600 acre site on which it is situated with the intention to keep the natural environment as intact as possible during construction. Using eco-friendly resources and keeping sustainability at the forefront of the design was the central focus to construction, evident from the use of simple tech like an off-grid energy system and interior geo-solar tempering, as well as safe, structural marvels like the locally-sourced straw and clay used to build the walls. The final product is a stunning and innovative building that is as pleasing to the eye as it is functional, cost-effective, and eco-minded.

Purpose

• Education center, demonstration project, provides programming specifically about sustainable systems and environmental issues.

Novel Features

• Earthbag frost-protected shallow foundation
• Natural stone spread footings
• Waste wood columns (aka ‘cordwood or stackwall’ columns)
• Earth plastered straw bale shear walls
• Earth plastered straw/clay walls, encapsulating wood stud wall
• Clay earthen floor
• Charred wood preservation
• Earthbag feature wall
• Round wood continuous grain framing (joists and posts, reclaimed hemlock)

Progressive Features

• Wood framing sourced from site
• Showcases low-cost approaches to achieving high performance standards
• Educational design build

Notable Value

• Finding expedient ways to prove novel structure is safe
• Open to everything

LINKS:
Endeavour Centre

SHOUT OUTS:
Chris Magwood – fostered collaborative exploration of structural solutions
David Bowick, Engineer of Record – granted autonomy and allowed unconventional structure

IMAGE CREDITS:
Endeavour Centre