Long before modern architectural designs had come about, indigenous cultures across the world had already built their own forms of huts and lodgings. Indigenous hut designs may vary from one culture to another, but all have the same purpose: shelter. From the aboriginal tribes of Australia to the Native Americans of North America, here is a look at the most popular forms of indigenous hut designs.
Indigenous Hut Designs
One of the most unique indigenous hut designs in the world can be found in the Nicobarese tribe in India. These huts are said to be modeled after tiger-shaped buildings, evidence of the tribe’s reverence for the felines. The huts are cone-shaped and topped off with thatch roofs that can easily be replaced when the thatch becomes too tattered. The cone shape of these huts improves their resistance to wind and rain, reducing damages resulting from harsh weather.
Tiger-Shaped Buildings by Nicobarese Tribes
Another interesting indigenous hut design can be seen in the canoe roof house of the Athabaskan people in North America. The distinguishing feature of this type of house is the roof, which is shaped like an upside-down canoe hull. The size and shape of the roof is made to match that of an actual canoe, and the design can clearly be seen in Athabaskan villages that are located in the Pacific Northwest.
Canoe Roof Houses of the Athabaskan People
The Pueblo peoples from the American Southwest also have their own unique indigenous hut designs. Their dwellings are made of adobe bricks, and usually have rounded roofs. The rounded shape is thought to help the houses better resist strong winds and thunderstorms, similar to what the cone-shaped huts of the Nicobarese tribe can do.
Rounded Roof Adobe Houses of the Pueblo Peoples
The Plains Indians, who once lived in the Great Plains of North America, had dwellings that were built on stilts. These houses were elevated to prevent them from being washed away during floods. A central post was usually placed in the middle of the house, and the walls were made out of woven mats.
Stilt Houses of the Plains Indians
The Kwakiutl, another North American tribe that lived near the Pacific coast, built their dwellings in the form of roundhouses. These roundhouses were made out of planks of wood nailed together and soaked in seawater. The walls were often decorated with various symbols and carvings, and had sacred items attached to them for spiritual protection.
Roundhouses of the Kwakiutl
The Iroquois tribes of North America also had their own version of a hut design. Their longhouses were rectangular-shaped dwellings that could house up to 60 people. These houses were built with planks of wood and animal hides, and had large smokeholes at the top for ventilation.
Longhouse of the Iroquois Tribes
The Inuit people of the Arctic regions had one of the most iconic hut designs: the igloo. These houses were built from blocks of snow and ice, and were made to be semi-circular in shape in order to better resist harsh winds. The doorways also featured a tunnel-like design to prevent the entry of snow and ice inside the house.
Igloo Houses of the Inuit People
The Plains Indians were also said to have built sod houses, made out of mixtures of earth and straw. These houses were also elevated on stilts, and were easy to make as they only require piles of earth and grass. These houses could provide good insulation against the cold, and could even last for several years.
Sod Houses of the Plains Indians
Wigwam and Wickiup houses were among the most popular indigenous hut designs in North America. These houses were shaped like a cone, with walls made of bent poles and covered with animal hides or grass. Their designs were easy to make, being made up of materials that could be found in the forests and plains.
Wigwam and Wickiup Houses of the Native Americans
The Tlingit people of Alaska have a unique version of the longhouse. These houses are known as wikiaks, and are made to look like large boxes hanging from the ceiling. They usually have a large doorway at one end, and are raised on poles for ventilation. Traditionally, these houses were slanted downwards towards the back, allowing runoff from the roofs to be collected for storage.
Wikiak Houses of the Tlingit People