these pages: Legislative Assembly of Nunavut, Iqaluit. 1999-2000 Arcop Group, Montreal
The logistics of building in the far north revolve around cli- mate. Everything in the eastern Arctic comes by one or two sea lifts between the end of ice in July and the coming of snow in September. All materials are precut, all bolts counted out, all necessary tools included. The Nunavut government operates with an open, transpar- ent philosophy. The building matches: government is seen at work from the both the exterior and from an open gallery that connects the assembly hall to the administrative offices. It was built by the Nunavut Construction Company using local Inuit tradesmen — given the four month work season it is difficult for young graduates of the northern technical colleges to complete their apprenticeships: the building of the Assembly Hall was a major learning and development project for the community. Arcop has worked, since the mid-1970s, in India and Pakistan with affiliated offices in New Delhi and Karachi.Within these contexts it is instinctive for them to work with available technology and materials, with regional craftsmen. As with the Assembly Hall this gives the community a more extended sense of ownership of their buildings.
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