This 30-unit Indigenous housing development in the village of Hitacu was conceived through a close partnership with Wiser Projects and Ucluelet First Nation, to support an application to BC Housing’s Indigenous Housing Fund. Rooted in community-led visioning, the project reflects deep listening to local needs and cultural values—particularly the desire for multi-generational living. Rather than conventional housing blocks, the design clusters four- and six-plexes to accommodate a range of family structures, with accessible and varied unit sizes to support both elders and young families.

The design process was deeply collaborative, grounded in an integrated process that brought together the Nation, the architectural team, the Wiser team, BC Housing, and the broader consultant group. This integrated approach allowed the project to stay aligned with funding and programmatic requirements while maintaining a community-driven design ethos. Architectural forms are intentionally simple, employing pitched roofs to address the site’s rainy climate and clear building massing to optimize accessibility and spatial efficiency.

The environmental approach responded to a challenging site—a formerly intact rainforest that had been cleared and over-prepared prior to design engagement. In response, the team developed a series of land-use and ecological principles aimed at healing and restoring site function. Rainwater management became a critical design driver, shifting from conventional engineering toward strategies that re-integrate natural water flow and ecological processes. The architectural and landscape strategies work to re-knit the cleared site into the surrounding forest, restoring lost habitat while creating a new neighborhood.

Targeting BC Energy Step Code Level 4, the buildings are designed for high-performance envelopes and flexible construction methods, including potential prefabrication. Cultural expression is woven into the design, with opportunities for artwork, carvings, and community storytelling integrated into the buildings themselves. As the design evolves, ongoing collaboration with the Ucluelet First Nation continues to guide the architectural identity—ensuring that the homes resonate with the people who will live there, and the land on which they sit.