Land Acknowledgement

Welcome to Kinform / K’é éí hólǫ́ House. This house is part of the Navajo Nation. The students of DesignBuildUTAH@Bluff recognize that many of us here today are settlers occupying Indigenous lands. We acknowledge the traditional, ancestral, and contemporary lands of the Hopi, Diné (Navajo), Ute Mountain Ute, Ute, Rio Grande Pueblo people, and other traditional Indigenous peoples of this land we call Bluff, and we express our gratitude for their stewardship and care of this land.

Design Concept

The project name "Kinform (K’é éí hólǫ́)" was inspired by the mother-daughter relationship of the clients and their "Kinship" with their extended family. The goal was to provide a living space for two people while also creating a place where relatives could gather and interact.

The original mobile home base had become dilapidated and could no longer provide adequate warmth or space. However, to make the maximum impact within a limited budget, we chose not to dispose of the trailer but to utilize it. By keeping the floor area of the new main living building to 560 square feet to save budget, we created a second structure (roof) to cover the trailer and restore its function.

Connecting these two structures is an outdoor gathering space that incorporates the Diné (Navajo) traditional culture of an east-facing entrance, as well as traditional patterns and materials.

Sustainability & Features

- Engawa: We incorporated the Japanese architectural element of "Engawa" to function as a "transitional space" between the interior and exterior. This long, narrow space facing south acts as passive solar heating in the winter, capturing low-angle sunlight and sending warmed air indoors. In the summer, windows can be opened to promote ventilation and keep the living space cool. Utilizing polycarbonate panels and cedar wood, it also functions as a space for family gatherings.

- Rammed Earth: Behind the wood stove, a Rammed Earth wall was installed as a non-combustible heat shield. Inspired by previous projects, this ensures safety while also serving as a symbolic artwork in the center of the living space.

- Water Catchment: Rainwater from the roof is collected through custom gutters and stored in two 50-gallon rain barrels. The collected water is used for multiple purposes, such as watering plants, cleaning, and providing water for livestock.

- Materials:

- Exterior: "Coco Brown" corrugated metal siding was adopted to blend with the surrounding rocky landscape, arranged horizontally to help the building settle into the scenery. Vertical cedar siding is used on the north face to add warmth.

- Interior: Elements created by students from local materials are incorporated, such as natural plaster using local soil, 3D printed lighting, and handmade tiles.