Becoming Salmon

PrizeWinner in Architectural Design / Misc. Architecture, Winner in Architectural Design / Other Architecture
University/SchoolUBC SALA
Lead ArchitectYongwook Seong
Design TeamM.Arch Thesis Committee: Prof. Christopher Macdonald, Lőrinc Vass and Nicholas Waissbluth

The salmon run is an annual event where wild salmon return to the upper streams of rivers from the ocean, in order to spawn. It is an important phenomenon for the ecosystem in BC, Canada, and Northwest Coast people have relied on salmon as part of their food resources. By using the return behaviour of wild salmon as a mnemonic strategy, Becoming Salmon attempts to raise Indigenous consciousness in Vancouver, while challenging the prevailing colonial landscape over the Historic False Creek Indian Reserve, which has been heavily exploited by the settler's government.