Historical Precendents

The following historic precedents illustrate how indigenous values, similar to the goals and parameters of Two Row Architect, were incorporated into built form. They remain powerful, meaningful and inspirational examples of how a group's architecture can be an accurate reflection of their society.

North East Woodlands - Longhouse

The center of Haudenasaunee and Huron architecture is the longhouse. Longhouses were grouped together in large communities, such as the Mohawk town of Cuaghnawaga , that was located on the banks of the St. Lawrence River , ca. 1750. Typically the houses are loosely aligned in rows and are surrounded by an irregular palisade. The plan of a typical five-fire longhouse from approximately 1724, as shown, reveals a proper ground floor level with a second higher shelf used as a bunk for beds. The cellular quality of the longhouse uses a human measure of 6', approximately the height of a man lying down. Entry to the house is from either end of the rectangular structure with procession from the vestibule to entrance lobby, to store room and then into the house proper. The five fire longhouse is symbolic of the league of five nations including, in order from East to West; Mohawk, Oneida , Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca.

The long house is constructed of saplings that are bent to form a barrel-vaulted structure. The saplings are then covered with stripped bark usually from an elm tree. The bark is tied to the primary structure using strips of green basswood or slippery elm inner-bark. The house has no windows, only openings in the roof for smoke to escape. These skylights allow daylight into the building as well. Openings are based on the number of fires within the house with 20' being the typical spacing for one fire.