The Humber and its currents: informing public place through historical analysis

Abstract

Following the groundwork established by scholars such as Lucy Lippard, Svetlana Boym, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Julie Eizenberg, this thesis aims to uncover a practical approach to the curation of public places of belonging in post-industrial society. More specifically, it focuses on the use of history as a tool for placemaking amidst colonial structures of indifference, alienation, and displacement In Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The research consisted of a thorough social, ecological, and historical analysis of the Humber River and the surrounding communities, with a particular focus on the City of Toronto and four adjacent neighbourhoods within its urban watershed. The proposed architectural intervention is a response to the social and ecological issues identified in the paper across a spectrum of nested scales. At the most architectural scale, the proposed building addresses the social needs of the local communities, providing facilities for children, youth, parents, and the elderly to learn through participation in their environment, while also providing opportunities for community organizers to lead and to educate the public.