Make a resolution to create better living spaces

It’s that time of year - those of us of a certain age have, hopefully, learned that New Year’s resolutions are a recipe for failure. Putting pressure on ourselves to be other than who we are never ends well.

Yes, it’s a good idea to look after your health, and if that means quitting smoking, getting more exercise or losing a few pounds, you should do those things. Health, when you get right down to it, is all we have. But telling yourself you’re going to do it all starting on Jan. 1 makes most of us feel like Sisyphus — we just keeping pushing the same rock up the same hill, making no progress but wearing ourselves out. Which, of course, we remedy by turning to the bad habits that make us feel better temporarily, but make us feel worse in the long run and lead to next year’s (usually the very same) resolutions.

Tackle one thing at a time when you’re ready. Few things can’t be done with a few basics in place: know yourself well and don’t spend too much time trying to swim upstream; ask for help when you need it (most people love helping, believe it or not); resign yourself to the fact that you’re human and will never be “perfect.” Better yet, if you must make a resolution, resolve to stop using the word “perfect.” It’s entirely subjective. Do your best.

Sometimes, the best way to help yourself is to try to help someone else. Putting the focus on others gives us a new perspective – we all fall down the rabbit hole sometimes. If you are looking for a way to make an impact in the wider world this year, put your mind and skills to work in little ways that add up to potentially big, life-changing things, for you and for others.

Quebec’s social housing agency this week released details of a pilot project aimed at addressing the housing shortage in the province’s frozen north. The project, which will be ready for residents of the Ungava Bay-area village of Quaqtaq sometime soon, tests a new prototype one-level duplex designed with the climate in mind. It gets better energy efficiency through better insulation, and has aerodynamic features to deal with snow accumulation and pile foundations that work well with shifting permafrost.

Via The Canadian Press

The project is meant to garner feedback on which aspects work well for residents; technical elements will be monitored by the agency while residents will offer feedback on floorplan changes made based on consultations with Inuit residents. For example, the units have lockable cabinets for hunting gear and large chopping blocks for preparing fish and game, according to CBC.

FGMDA Architectes founding partner Alain Fournier says the elements are part of an “empowerment through architecture” philosophy where First Nations and Inuit communities work with designers and officials to be better represented in buildings in their areas.

Because of the high costs of building in the subarctic climate (three times higher than in the south), the project won’t fully address an estimated shortage of nearly a thousand units, but these things have to start somewhere.

How does a housing shortage and a pilot project in Northern Quebec mean anything to my new year’s theme? Maybe you have the skills or know-how to add to the growing body of knowledge that could empower people through architecture. Isn’t that a great concept?

Whether you’re in the design business, the construction business, or just an interested party with a good brain, give yourself the task of putting a little time each week into solving somebody else’s problem. It doesn’t have to be kitchen design in the frozen north — maybe you’ve noticed that your elderly downstairs neighbour has trouble with her deadbolt. If she does, it’s likely there are other elderly residents who do, too. Is there a gentle-slide deadbolt out there somewhere? If there isn’t, maybe it’s time somebody designed one.

Making the world a better place doesn’t have to mean putting an end to war or hunger. It can be a little thing with a big impact. Instead of worrying about a bit of extra meat on your bones, try putting your ingenuity to work to empower all of us through better living spaces.