The shieling in Scotland and laavu in Finland are temporary shelters or dwellings built from natural materials, used by those working in nature away from permanent settlements. The thematic scope of the project allowed for the examination of Arctic and Near Arctic ecocultures in the spirit and values of the Arctic University: bridging
the past and present, traditional knowledge and contemporary practices together to foster revitalisation. Shielin-bough is a good example of the Arctic Sustainable Art and Design Thematic Network’s approach to bringing sustainability-focused research, art, and education into practice across various Northern and Arctic regions. The project also demonstrates the porous boundaries between contemporary art, architecture, and craftsmanship discovered though new genre Arctic art education.