Equestrian architecture: crafting a sustainable northern community for the wellness of the horse and human companion in Greater Sudbury, Ontario

Abstract

Equestrian Architecture will create a meaningful western performance facility to improve the quality of life of an American Quarter horse in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. The interactions and connections between horses and humans, between horses alike, and between horses and their environment will be studied to curate an architecture to benefit all. The relationship between horse and human has evolved overtime, however, the architecture around them has not significantly changed. Since the 1800s, when horses were used for agriculture, the barn has remained relative unchanged. Now that these animals are used mainly for recreational purposes, a shift in the architecture is necessary to cater to the wellness of the horse and rider. Being around horses requires humans to exercise their nonverbal communication. The experience of touch is the main way humans communicate with these animals; it is very important that the human is conscious of body language. For this reason, horseback riding is not only a physical sport but also psychological sport, and so it is beneficial to humans in many ways. Some horses live their entire lives without ever leaving the farm, that is the place where they experience all stages of life. It is very important that the farm improves their quality of life. From Vitruvius to Le Corbusier, architects have always studied the scale of the human; this thesis needs to adapt to the scale of the horse to be able to build a comfortable architecture for them. The domesticated horse is a sensitive animal and requires care from humans to provide them food, water, and shelter especially to keep them comfortable in the harsh northern winters. A site has been chosen in the southern side of Greater Sudbury in the small community of Wanup, ON. Building an equestrian facility in the north presents its challenges with it being such a large building complex that needs to handle the snow and wind load. The site is utilized to best handle the environmental conditions that occur in a northern climate. The program is organized into five categories to assist with the flow of movement through the facility; the House for the Horse, the Private House for the Human, the Public House for the Human, the Shared House, and the Back of House. The horizontal and vertical relationships of these spaces to each other and the site have been studied to better the care and comfort of the horses. This thesis looks at innovative building opportunities to better the wellness of the horse and human in the harsh Sudbury climate. The structure reflects the strong and dynamic qualities of the structure of the horse and the human. The facility re-introduces a high level of care in the craft and materiality of the building, which over time has been lost in equestrian facilities. The details in the building take influence from the highly developed connections in the equipment, such as that of the saddle and bridle. Daylighting and ventilation are maximized throughout the facility to improve the wellness of its users. The building systems work together to create an environment for the horses and riders to thrive. This thesis creates a facility to improve the wellness of horses and humans in northern Ontario. The facility as a whole allows for the best care possible for these animals and the human companions