One of the most important structures to the Native American tribes of Western New York is the longhouse. This structure built only of wood. These structures allowed for these people to stay warm throughout winters that could be as harsh as any we have seen. The masterly crafted houses provided warmth in the winter and in the summers allowed for the air to flow through and keep the house cool. Without these houses, the tribes of New York would not have survived.
The Iroquois used nature and their natural resources to provide shelter. The Iroquois made their homes called longhouses from what was around them. In Document #1 it states that they made their homes from sticks and bark, the plant fibers. No scrap of material was ever wasted, it was always used for something else.
Chiefs felt at ease to alter aboriginal architectural to suit their own aesthetic appeal and desire. They were quick to “incorporate western notions of domestic space than the commoners in more rural areas”. Now, western elements were considered as only the elite few could afford. The chiefs “opened [their] houses for a more public display of status-enhancing European goods” (Ladegoged, #). By 1837, even local houses used material found in Hawaii but with more Western elements incorporated into the design of architecture, for example “windows, high ceilings and large portal entrances” (“Hawaii
The Natives built and lived in many small teepees, small dwellings, along with massive adobe homes in the woods using the materials they had found among the land
Homes in the Cherokee villages were often located near rivers. They were made of rivercane and plaster. Roofs were thatched which meant it was made from dry vegetation such as straw, water reed, sedge, rushes, or heather. The houses, though made of what seems weak materials, were nearly as strong as log cabins. Larger buildings were built for ceremonial purposes. Each of the indian villages has a ballpark for entertainment. Each village had a palisade around it for protection from other tribes. Nowadays, Cherokees live in a home or an apartment just like an average American.
Native American architecture varies greatly from region to region throughout North America, and was influenced by factors such as climate, kind of community, and the natural environment. Whereas some buildings were designed and constructed for specified functions, others, such as Anasazi great houses, were massive multi-purpose structures. Because great houses from Chaco Canyon are so well preserved, it is possible to have a decent understanding of the structure of Anasazi architecture for analysis. A close examination of the innovative Anasazi great house architecture of the Chaco Canyon region reveals its utilitarian value.
The navajo indians had lived in what is called a hogan. It is a structure made of sticks and dirt and is manly used for insulation.
The Pomo Indians used nearby trees, such as redwoods, to build their homes. They would take a center pole and pile thick pieces of bark against it. These homes were small, usually 8-10 feet tall. These homes were not portable, but they were small and easy to build. (native-languages.org). Among the Indian tribes who lived here were the Miwoks and the Pomos.-Emerson
The Catawba also had a special nickname for themselves, which was the “river people”. The villages were strongly protected. Homes that the Catawba Indians lived in were called wigwams. These houses were generally made out of sapling trees for the main frame of the house. The roofs of these wigwams were made of bark and grasses. In addition, every Catawba village had one council home. The council home was like a modern-day city hall where the leaders of the village would meet and create rules and laws the civilians had to follow. Another important aspect that the Catawba had were that they were excellent potters, which was made from Carolina
The Cherokee Indians lived in settled villages, usually located near a river. Cherokee houses were made of rivercane and plaster, with thatched roofs. These dwellings were about as strong and warm as log cabins.
A mix of housing age, old houses ( 40-100 years old predominant) and new housing developments
The Traditional Chinese houses have many differences in comparison with the North American houses. The building materials used in construction is the most distinct difference from North American’s. A typical Chinese farmhouse is built of sun-dried bricks or pounded earth, because wood is too expensive and scarce to use. On the other hand, many typical Northern American houses are built of wood. In addition to the variations of building materials used in constriction, the architectural planning of a traditional Chinese houses is also unique. A traditional Chinese house is built according to the “Court-yard System'; where by houses are built around a courtyard which is invisible to the outside. Windows are covered by a thin oiled paper which is also invisible in order to protect robbery and keep privacy. Nowadays, the traditional housing system seldom appears in Hong Kong because it is too expensive and may cost millions of dollars. Moreover, the housing in Hong Kong is usually apartments and skyscrapers which is different from the ancient China.
However, Chinese agriculture which was the base for economy at that period, aimed to recreate the original civilization in the frame of re collection, re storage approaches. Chinese traditional Architecture derived its form from the traditional Chinese philosophy which objective is a unify world with harmony, which is a revelation of man to nature. People are part of nature therefore Chinese people would select wood as a basic building material. It is of great importance that the Chinese people choose wood since it shows the relationship between its qualities and these of life
As we grow and become more handy, wise and skillful, we can refine this passion for building houses. Around the world, there are
The Taino world, for the most part, had some of the appearance that the modern imaginations ascribe to the South Pacific Islands. The Taino used two primary architectural styles for their homes. The general population lived in circular buildings with the poles providing the primary support and these were covered with the woven straw and palm leaves. They were somewhat like the North American teepees except, they needed to reflect the warmth of the climate and simply used straw and palm leaves rather than being covered with the skins (Barreiro 8). The caciques were singled out for unique housing. Their house was rectangular and featured a small porch. Despite the differences in shape, and the considerably larger buildings, the same material was used.