Anduhyaun Emergency Shelter by LGA houses domestic violence survivors

Anduhyuan Emergency Shelter by LGA Architectural Partners

Toronto studio LGA Architectural Partners has created a shelter for Indigenous women affected by domestic violence, ensuring the building and interiors honour their traditions.

The Anduhyaun Emergency Shelter arose from a partnership between LGA and Anduhyaun, the owner and operator of Toronto's only Indigenous Violence Against Women shelter.

Winding entrance corridor providing access to private rooms — From the entrance to the Anduhyaun Emergency Shelter, a winding corridor connects a series of rooms for intake, counselling, Elders, and staff

"Our collaboration has created a one-of-a-kind space that honors Indigenous traditions, with a focus on themes of revitalisation and transformation," said LGA.

"These themes are brought to life through formal and material choices that reference elements strongly associated with healing and nourishment: water, earth, and sky."

Curved corridor lined with blue tiles and featuring recessed doorways — Doorways are recessed so as not to interrupt the flow of the curved blue-tiled walls

The new 1,102-square-metre centre has 18 rooms for women and their children, and a variety of resources to help them heal and recover from their experiences.

The ground floor includes rooms for intake, counselling, Elders, and staff, which unfold along a river-like corridor lined with blue tiles.

A communal kitchen and dining room with wooden furniture — A communal kitchen and dining room provides a space for residents to prepare and eat meals together

Doorways are recessed back from the curved walls so as not to interrupt the flow of the "moving stream".

At the end of this corridor, a light-filled communal kitchen and dining area open to a private garden beyond.

A shingle-clad circular room with a deep red interior — A shingle-clad circular room accommodates ceremonies, meditations and gatherings

Here, the tiles give way to cedar shingles arranged in a spiralling pattern "evocative of waves and shapes that emerge and change" according to LGA.

"This is a vibrant shared space where residents cook with autonomy or together while engaging in the shelter community."

Room with sumac red walls and radial-patterned wood flooring — Radial-patterned wood flooring converges in the centre of Nookomis, in which the walls are coloured sumac red

Wood flooring across the main level is laid in a radial pattern that converges at the centre of a circular room known as Nookomis – "grandmother" in the Ojibwe language.

This space is used for ceremonies, meditations, meetings and other gatherings, and its walls are coloured sumac red to create an intimate feel.

A sliding partition can be opened to connect the Nookomis room with the communal area, and hidden ventilation in the ceiling supports sacred smudging ceremonies.

There's also a circular skylight that casts sun and moonlight across the floor, marking the passage of days and seasons.

Corridor with a view into an intimate communal space — The upper levels offer more intimate communal spaces as well as the bedroom suites

The two upper residential floors feature communal areas, quiet rooms and children's play areas where residents can socialise, share meals and relax.

Floor plans for the bedroom suites are optimised so that each has access to its own three-piece bathroom, as opposed to shared washroom facilities typically found in shelters.

Bedroom with light blue walls, a bed and a small wooden desk — The bedrooms are fully furnished and can be connected for larger families

Adjacent suites can be connected to accommodate larger families, and all include an operable window, a bed, desk, a wardrobe and adjustable lighting.

"Alive with the spirit of growth and transformation, the shelter embodies Indigenous traditions and the life-affirming care that Anduhyaun has provided for decades, providing a space for cultural connectedness and healing," said LGA.

Bathroom sink with a mirror and a light above — The floor plans are configured so that each suite has its own three-piece bathroom

Similar shelters around the world include the Ada and Tamar De Shalit House in Tel Aviv and a centre in Tanzania's Kilimanjaro region.

Amongst LGA's other projects that aim to address social issues is the transformation of a Toronto warehouse into a community for homeless youths.

The photography is by Doublespace.

People in Canada affected by domestic violence or abuse can find a list of resources for help here.

Project credits:

Architecture and interior design: LGA Architectural Partners
Project team: Brock James (partner in charge), Emira Galeteanu, Drew Adams, Kris Payne, Nicole Rak, James Lee, Joe Loreto, Elly Selby, Jennifer Davis, Xan Hawes, Kathleen Crisol
Structural: Blackwell Engineering
Mechanical and electrical: Quasar Consulting Group
Civil: Fabian Papa
Landscape architect: GSP Group
Code consultant: NSP Consulting
Building science: RDH
General contracting: Renokrew
Project management: Tim Welch Consulting