Curating place: restoring Copper Cliff's industrial sites through environmental science and community heritage design

Abstract

This thesis investigates the complex interrelationships between environmental restoration, industrial activity and the community identity and heritage within Copper Cliff, a historically mining-dependent community in Sudbury, Ontario. Situated on the Canadian Shield, this region makes for a unique case study in urban regeneration. Inaugurating as an industrial area seriously afflicted by environmental degradation and metamorphosing into a symbol of ecological recovery. This study, therefore, addresses the challenge of maintaining environmental progress while taking into account social and economic development. Utilizing an interdisciplinary strategy that combines restorative ecology and cultural heritage. The study suggests a model for revitalizing Copper Cliff’s industrial sites into multi-functional spaces that serve both the ecological and social dimensions of the town. The thesis supports historical memory and place-making strategies to highlight the community’s industrial and cultural past, ensuring that the architectural gestures not only respect history but contribute to the ongoing story of “place”. Through an ethnographic approach that incorporates walking tours as a tool for community engagement, the research seeks to deepen the connection between residents and their transformed environment. The study is centered on an exploration of the socio-cultural influences of industrialization and the ongoing healing of the land. Curating design methods for sustainably restoring urban areas while preserving Copper Cliff’s past and promoting an inclusive and resilient future. Offering insights that could inform similar initiatives in other industrial communities.