Articles

Canada faces conflicting crises with the current severe housing shortage and a critical need to reduce emissions related to construction. Bioregional construction is an emerging approach, successfully used in Europe, that could help with both. Bioregional construction uses locally sourced natural construction materials like wood, clay, and straw. Could lessons from Europe’s implementation of bioregional construction help transform Canada's building industry?

Net-zero buildings get talked about a lot. Far less often do we see clear, practical examples of how they actually come together. That gap matters. Especially for public buildings that run nonstop and carry a lot of visibility. Emergency facilities, for example, have high energy demands and long lifespans. They’re also trusted community spaces. When they lead, others tend to follow.

Most Canadians spend about 90% of their time indoors. In winter, even more. Yet our bodies and brains didn’t evolve under fluorescent lights or in sealed office towers. We evolved outdoors, in changing light, fresh air, layered sounds, and spaces where we felt safe.