INTBAU Canada

The International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture & Urbanism (INTBAU) Canada, a cross-country initiative, was created in 2007. As a nascent organization, its first mandate is to promote the general principles of INTBAU's Charter whilst encouraging conservation and the study and recognition of Traditional Architecture and Urbanism within a Canadian context.

The Canadian chapter aims to achieve this goal by drawing together all those with an interest in advancing the values associated with traditional design philosophies, sustainable urbanism, responsible community based architecture and conservation of the built environment. It also seeks to reflect the importance of regionalist and local and vernacular traditions as well as Canada's diversity from coast to coast to coast.

INTBAU Canada's objectives over the next few years are the following:

Promote Traditional Architecture and Urbanism as a viable alternative to current development patterns through seminars, conferences, workshops, local activities and publications.

Educate professionals and the public on the merits of Traditional and Vernacular building, the importance of local character and a sense of place, sustainable development and heritage conservation.

Facilitate contact and exchange of information and ideas between people interested in promoting INTBAU's vision and establish a pool of professionals with expertise.

Identify existing body of knowledge relating to INTBAU’s mandate through research.

Create a context-specific framework and guidelines to support traditional concepts in new architecture and urban design creations through education, policy revision, studies and activities.

INTBAU Canada seeks to influence the views of practitioners in the built environment (from architects, landscape architects, engineers and planners through to technicians, technologists and craftspeople), academics, educators, students, politicians, artists, cultural activists and a general public interested in considering the importance of a more holistic vision of our built environment. This would bring us to evolve towards a more humane, aesthetically pleasing, considerate, participatory, socially and environmentally responsible design ethos.

We welcome enquiries from individuals and organizations interested in contributing to the network. To join INTBAU please visit www.intbau.org/join.htm. INTBAU Canada has set up a web-based discussion group. To join this group (you need to be an INTBAU member) please contact Naomi Lane.