From the Arctic outer reaches to northern Canada, igloolik and igloo architecture has a well-preserved pedigree that stretches back centuries. As a type of Arctic house design, these buildings are designed to resist the elements with distinctive angled walls. Expansive snow shields roofs from wind and errant snowdrifts. Igloo house designs are time-tested yet highly adaptive, offering a multitude of features like energy-efficient insulation, spacious common areas and easy constructability. Given the materials available and the cold weather, the Igloo’s style remains as timeless homage to Art Deco houses despite its many modern touches. With its symmetric walls, white snow façade and interior aesthetic, the igloo-style house has become a classic even today.Igloo House Designs
Igloo House Designs
An adaptation of American Native architectural styles, tepee houses have many benefits. Their cone-shaped structure and inbuilt compartments for storage make it both a sturdier and efficient choice for a home. Flaring walls and splayed windows create a unique shelter against the elements. And the ring frame within gives extra strength to walls—when combined with a strong and durable material like timber cladding, they make for an exceptionally lasting structure. Art Deco house designs in tepee formation have the versatility of being able to build larger spaces into a single unit. The roofing can be extended and shaped in a variety of ways. They also offer great flexibility in outdoor landscaping, allowing owners to shape the exterior in whatever way they choose.Tepee House Designs
Tepee House Designs
The adobe house is a classic mixture of Spanish-Moorish design with earthy tones. Featuring mesmerizingly beautiful ornamentation and plaster finishes, the adobe house is a great example of an Art Deco house. It’s characterized by a symmetric façade with decorative wall carvings and painted walls. Furthermore, its specially crafted frames and window molds add to its grandeur. On the interior, the adobe house features heavy timber beamed ceilings, richly textured walls, bright walls, and lots of functionality. It’s an excellent combination of traditional and modern style. Though adobe houses can take time to construct, the final result is worth the efforts.Adobe House Designs
Adobe House Designs
Wigwam House Designs
Wigwam House Designs
Hogan House Designs
Hogan House Designs
The longhouse is another Art Deco house design with ancient roots. Native normally associated with the Indigenous group of humans, this style is perfect for those who appreciate the subtle beauty of rural architecture. Traditionally, the longhouse style was used as a shelter for family clans or a communal home for a village—lodging groups of people in a single structure. Today, longhouse house designs feature the same symmetric characteristics but with modern influences. These include wooden siding, stone chimneys, clapboard siding, and intricate designs on the eave and roofline. Longhouse house designs are the perfect example of mixing traditional and contemporary style.Longhouse House Designs
Longhouse House Designs
Plank houses are traditional dwellings designed to fit the dimensions and inclinations of the local terrain. As one of the most unique styles of architecture, the art deco plank house incorporates impressive carpentry techniques to achieve beautiful symmetry and a robust construction. These plank houses feature large sections with staggered roof lines and heavy timber frames, designed to keep the house well insulated. Homes built with plank foundations also benefit from superior defense against water-borne and natural debris. Plank house designs are also excellent for constructing multi-storeyed houses, providing extra space and comfort for residents.Plank House Designs
Plank House Designs
Birchbark houses are a symbol of fortitude, resilience and innovation. As one of the oldest house designs in North America, this traditional type of shelter offers a unique combination of primitive and modern appeal. Used initially by native tribes, these dwellings are crafted with hand-shaped birch-bark that provides structural support and insulation. Labyrinthine windows add an air of mystery to the façade. With a modern twist, birchbark houses provide all the comforts of a conventional dwelling with a unique aesthetic touch. Houses styled in this manner are extremely warm and efficient, have simple yet stylish interiors, and provide plenty of privacy. They offer a unique touch to a village or residential area.Birchbark House Designs
Birchbark House Designs
For a truly surreal living experience, there is no better option than the snow house. Snow houses are an interpretation of Art Deco architecture that make use of the natural advantages of the weather. These snow-white dwellings make for a magical home. Their frosty, fragile, and soft structure often makes them a point of magnetic attraction. The soft walls are crafted with snow blocks and a stable frame, providing superior weatherproofing without compromising on the beauty of the exterior. Found in places like the Antarctic and the Arctic, snow houses are a callback to humanity's hardiest living arrangements; they offer a unique modern-meets-old-world aesthetic that is sure to enchant.Snow House Designs
Snow House Designs
As one of the earliest surviving house designs, the wattle and daub house incorporates woven fiber into the structure of home itself. Combining straw, mud, and wood, the wattle and daub construction technique is an ancient but renowned sheltering technique. For today’s Art Deco house designs, the wattle and daub house offers a unique charm that can be crafted to suit any taste. The walls of a wattle and daub house are constructed of a mix of wood, reeds and mud, with straw and a lime mortar for insulation. This sturdy frame can be customized with a variety of intricate carvings and designs for a modern look.Wattle and Daub House Designs
Wattle and Daub House Designs
How Aboriginal House Design Develops Over Time
The unique architecture of Aboriginal dwellings has been in existence for centuries and draws its inspiration from the environment in which the structures are located. Aboriginal house design typically incorporates a combination of circular, rectilinear, and other geometric shapes that utilize a combination of
natural materials
and modern technology. The construction process is often a collaboration between Aboriginal homeowners and architects, ensuring that the home is uniquely suited to meet the needs of contemporary Aboriginal culture.
Traditional Aboriginal House Design
Traditional Aboriginal dwellings were typically constructed with large timber frames and covered with bark or thatch. These dwellings were often shared by multiple families and featured centralized living areas, such as a main cooking fires, as well as communal areas for sleeping. Due to their large size, these dwellings were easily adaptable and could be quickly modified depending on the needs of the family.
Contemporary Aboriginal House Design
Today's Aboriginal dwellings take advantage of modern technologies, such as metal framing and insulation, while still staying true to traditional forms. Contemporary Aboriginal dwellings are designed to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing, making use of local resources, such as wood, stone, and other materials, that can be sourced from the surrounding environment. Common features in contemporary Aboriginal designs include open-air courtyards, traditional sleeping spaces, and communal living areas that encourage socialization and community building.
Environmental Considerations
Aboriginal house design is always mindful of the environment, taking into account the local climate, sunlight, and other weather patterns in the planning stages. Designs also use natural materials, such as clay or earth, that are harvested locally to reduce the environmental impact of the build. Designs are often tailored to be energy efficient, taking into account the local climate and available heating and cooling sources, such as open terraces and fireplaces. By incorporating traditional and modern technologies, Aboriginal house design is able to provide comfortable and practical homes that are respectful of the environment.
