Chumash Indian Museum

Thousand Oaks, California ·
Designed in 1989

This Chumash Indian Museum was commissioned by the County of Ventura to honor the indigenous people of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. The circular building was designed to mimic the Chumash round branched dwellings. Donut shaped, the museum’s center is an outdoors space with a single Oak tree. This tree symbolizes the reason for Chumash seasonal migrations to this valley. Acorns were the people’s sustenance crop and this valley’s trees produced  exceptionally large acorns. Museum grounds honor small natural caves the Chumash used for spiritual gatherings.


Key Project Highlights

• Working with many different communities to preserve a sensitivity to the Chumash community
• Designed around a sacred tree
• Designed with deep research into a valued culture
• Sustainable materials