Hannah Huon, 300297494 Beyond the Structure: How tradional Tipi Architecture Embodies Sioux Culture. Architectural structures are oſten perceived as merely objects on the earth’s surface, which are built to foster human interacon and survival. New anthropological architectural philosophies however, have explored not only how the physical structures shape interacon, but also how the architecture itself is a coming- together of relaonships and human agency. This essay examines the tradional skin pi, specifically how its materiality and structure embodied the lifestyle, pracces, relaonships and beliefs of the Sioux of the Great Plains up unl the 19 th century. I argue that the construcon of the pi was orientated around the hunng/sacrificial relaonship between the buffalo and the Sioux. To do so, I assess the bidireconal connecon between hunng and pi architecture; the social interacon, shaped by hunng pracces and the pi’s construcon process; and the spirituality that the Sioux aached to the design of the pi. I then use the transformaon of the pi in the 19 th century to illustrate how deeply imbedded the pi was in the Sioux hunng culture. I conclude with a discussion about how new approaches to architecture provide a deeper understanding the ways humans interact with each other and their environment. At the very primary level, the hunng relaonship between the Sioux and the buffalo was directly represented in the pi’s materiality. Buffalo skin was the most important form of shelter throughout the year. Laubin (1957) gives a good account of the uses of buffalo skin on the pi. The material covering the outside of the pi was typically comprised of eight to ten buffalo hides, dried, tanned, stretched and sewn together. The hides were also used to transform a very basic shelter into a sophiscated living space through creang a lining, which prevented rainwater, cold breezes and dampness from entering the living quarters during the winter months. The lining improved the venlaon system in the pi, with the warmth of the fire drawing in cold air from outside, which rose between the outer cover and lining, drawing smoke out with it. This enabled an open fire to be used within the pi to keep warm and to cook with. The lining also prevented shadows from being projected onto the pi wall from the fire (Laubin 1957). Aacks from other tribes could otherwise be made at night through the pi cover by shoong the shadow of a 1