Isuarsivik Regional Recovery Centre, Residence, Québec Housing, Architecture, New Québec Real Estate Project Images

Isuarsivik Regional Recovery Centre in Québec

January 30, 2024

Design: EVOQ Architecture

Location: Kuujjuaq, Québec, Canada

photo © EVOQ Architecture

Photos: Samuel Lagacé (Tumiit Media) + EVOQ Architecture

Isuarsivik Regional Recovery Centre, Canada

EVOQ Architecture unveils its work on the new Isuarsivik Regional Recovery Centre, placing architecture at the service of healing for an institution that has been offering specialized services to residents of the 14 communities of Nunavik dealing with substance use and trauma since 1994. Created by the Inuit, for the Inuit, the Centre provides an inpatient program that responds to a regional problem by supporting people facing alcohol and drug addiction.

photo © Samuel Lagacé (Tumiit Media)

The new Regional Centre triples the capacity of the previous one, while providing a new healing program for families and specialized support for pregnant women. This important project is proof of the level of commitment offered by regional organizations and various governments to support Nunavimmiut in their pursuit of healing. Its official opening took place at the end of September 2023.

photo © EVOQ Architecture

Design of the new centre
The new recovery centre stands on a rocky peninsula in Kuujjuaq overlooking the Koksoak River. Contact with nature is at the heart of the healing journey, with the built environment working alongside nature to create a cultural surrounding that supports the treatment developed by Isuarsivik. The centre fully embraces the landscape with its two long urpik branches-arctic willows, a medicinal plant and symbol of the Centre.

photo © Samuel Lagacé (Tumiit Media)

The reception is located at the intersection of the two wings, a true area of human confluence. The two wings connect around a qaggiq (inspired by the Inuit communal igloo, a circular ancestral place for meeting and sharing), and the true beating heart of the centre. On that level and on the floor above, public spaces, therapy services, and offices are located. Two smaller, more intomate qagguit are located at both ends of the accommodation wings, as well as living quarters serving the clients, or “guests”.

photo © Samuel Lagacé (Tumiit Media)

The fall colours of the Nunavik landscape pervade the interiors, bathing them in rich tones of oranges, green,s and ochres. The exterior draws its inspiration from the urpik. The muted exterior cladding emphasizes the ends of the wings; the warm colour of the wood clad qagguit evokes the soft glow of the arctic willow catkins, or buds.

photos © Samuel Lagacé (Tumiit Media)

Artwork integration
Several artworks were integrated into the project, allowing local artists to express the culture of the community:

photo © Samuel Lagacé (Tumiit Media)

The urpik has been reinterpreted by artist Alec Gordon on the main facade. The catkins, or buds, are backlit, recalling their soft glow. The work is best seen during the long winter nights.

photo © Samuel Lagacé (Tumiit Media)

Tunniit (Inuit female facial tattoos), created by Sarah May, were integrated in various places such as glass partitions and cabinetwork.

The qullialuk (large qulliq, a traditional Inuit oil lamp) welcomes guests at the main entrance of the centre. This sculpture is the result of a collaboration between artists Mattiusi Iyaituk, Benjamin Isaac, George Kaukai, Charleen Watt, Sarah May, and Pascale Archambault.

photo © Samuel Lagacé (Tumiit Media)

Isuarsivik Regional Recovery Centre in Québec, Canada – Building Information

Design: EVOQ Architecture – http://evoqarchitecture.com/

Alain Fournier
Carolyne Fontaine
Éric Moutquin
Félix Dallaire
Louis Babin-St-Jean
Marc-André Sorel
Catherine Fontaine
Huayna Sanchez
Marcel Goulet
Sébastien Daigle
Jean-François Lefebvre
Isabelle Laurier
Karine Dieujuste
Éric Leblanc
Laurie Beaumont
Krystel Aspirot
Anne-Julie Nolet
Anya Messaoud-Nacer

photo © EVOQ Architecture

Client: Isuarsivik
Civil Engineers: Atkins Réalis (SNC-Lavalin)
Structural Engineers: NCK
Mechanical-Electrical-Food-Service Engineers: BPA
Entrepreneur: Pépin Fortin Construction inc.
Lighting: Luxtec

ART WORKS:
Alec Gordon – Urpik
Sarah May – Tunniit & other grounds
Mattiusi Iyaituk, Benjamin Isaac, George Kaukai, Charleen Watt, Sarah May & Pascale Archambault – Qullialuk / Grand qulliq

photo © Samuel Lagacé (Tumiit Media)

About EVOQ Architecture
EVOQ is an award-winning architectural firm recognized for its quality interventions and site-specific design solutions. The firm, formerly known as FGMDA, was established in 1996. In 2016, the firm incorporated and became EVOQ Architecture.

EVOQ’s strength lies in its broad range of expertise and the synergy of its network of offices in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Iqaluit.

EVOQ can count on a vast talent pool of over 150 professionals specializing in heritage conservation, planning, First Nations and Inuit development, contemporary residential and institutional design, and landscape architecture.

photo © EVOQ Architecture

Photographers: Samuel Lagacé (Tumiit Media) + EVOQ Architecture

Isuarsivik Regional Recovery Centre, Kuujjuaq, Québec information / images received 300124 from v2com newswire

Location: Kuujjuaq, Québec, Canada

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