Arctic Adaptations

A submission for the 2014 Canadian Pavilion at the 14th International Architecture Exhibition - Venice Biennale, curated by Lateral Office 

M1 (First Master Level term) / Design Tutors: Diogo Burnay & Roger Mullin

Awarded Honorable Mention

Group Members: Will Perkins and Jonny Leger

EMBEDDED NETWORKS:

Capitalizing on Traditional & Digital Information in the Arctic Landscape

The Arctic landscape, though often portrayed as barren and desolate, in fact shows evidence of ancient and ubiquitous inhabitation. It is home to a complex network of ephemeral trails: a robust information network spreading language, news, culture, and goods across the Arctic. Along these trails the landscape is dotted with Inuksuk: stone momuments marking safe passage, food caches, spiritual places of power and important events.

Currently, as a result of warming global temperatures, the sea ice that usually blocks the Northwest Passage is melting and shipping routes are becoming increasingly used. While these developments are concerning, they do present certain benefits to the people of Nunavut such as a longer shipping season and now the possibility of introducing broadband Internet access.

The information network embedded in the Arctic landscape shares an affinity with the Internet. In reality, this seemingly intangible global network relies on massive physical infrastructure that criss-crosses the globe along the ocean floor. Recently a Canadian company, Arctic Fibre, has been approved to install a new fibre optic cable between Tokyo and London through the Northwest Passage, stopping in seven Nunavut communities. This new cable will create a physival connection between these two major centres that is 3,000 km shorter than current routes allowing for a 29-millisecond increase in speed. In the current world of high frequency trading, milliseconds can mean millions of dollars. The convergence of the traditional and digital networks provide an opportunity for the development of strategic and symbiotic relationships to support and enhance Nunavut arts infrastructure.