Architecture Thesis Collection
http://hdl.handle.net/10429/2
2024-03-19T07:16:32ZGamify Detroit Redefining Gamification Through The Implementation of Game Design
http://hdl.handle.net/10429/2513
Gamify Detroit Redefining Gamification Through The Implementation of Game Design
Crume, Omari
The task of this thesis is to reignite user engagement
in public space by redesigning the public realm through the
lens of a game designer. There were many designers who
attempted to reinvent public space. Notably the Situationists
International who declared a primary reason for why users go
outside, which was for capitalist desires like purchasing goods
and services or simply to work to gain the ability to pay for
goods and services rather than for leisure. The primary area
this thesis tasks itself to solve is: “by redesigning spaces with
activities and user customization will it cause strangers to
connect and socialize?” To achieve this, the method of research
used has been designing games and activities that could be
placed in the context of Detroit, Michigan. In order to reengage
the public the thesis establishes an app-like framework
that can be used within the city of Detroit to engage the
public. The primary findings from the methods are to keep the
activities simple yet engaging for users, allow for games to be
finished quickly, and to have their activities to be modular and
able to swap in order to keep the spaces enticing for repeat
visitors. This study is valuable as designers have attempted to
redesign public space to be more enticing, however the typical
route omits the public’s opinion. With this thesis the goal is
to integrate users into owning and designing the public realm,
being able to participate and tweak spaces to their liking akin
to a game designer.
The task of this thesis is to create more engaging and
interactive spaces by taking influence from video game design
elements. Through this thesis I believe gamifying spaces with
design elements inspired by video games can enhance public
spaces with user engagement.
2024-01-17T00:00:00ZSpatial Opportunities for Refugee Integration
http://hdl.handle.net/10429/2504
Spatial Opportunities for Refugee Integration
Makki, Mona R
An estimated 103 million people were forcibly displaced by mid-2022, “as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations or events seriously disturbing public order” (UNHCR, 2022). The traumatic life of a refugee, from the beginning stages of displacement to the period of temporary settlement and beyond, makes resettlement in a new country challenging. Refugees resettling in Canada are faced with a new set of uncertainties: How will they navigate a new cultural and social system? Where are they to live and work? Will they be accepted into society? This study adopts an intersubjective/contextual framework to investigate the issue of refugee resettlement and aims to understand the spatial experiences of refugees during the process of integration in Canadian society. Through the identification of available resettlement programs in Canada, this study further investigates how the field of architecture can improve refugee experiences. The City of Windsor, Ontario is the focus of this study and was chosen due to its unique location as a international border city and major commercial corridor, as well as its large immigrant population and history of refugee resettlement.
The conceptual framework developed by Ager & Strang (2008) distinguishes ten core domains of integration which are used as a tool of analysis in this study. A qualitative/mixed methodology approach was used to understand refugee experiences and identify specific needs. First-hand accounts of Syrian refugees were a central tool in shaping the outcomes of the study. Other methods included the analysis and mapping of available refugee resettlement services in the City of Windsor. Further, successful refugee integration efforts, like those in Winnipeg, Manitoba, were analyzed to form a clearer understanding of how federal and provincial policies can be leveraged to assist in the integration and housing of refugees.
Findings from the research guided the proposal of an architectural and urban intervention for recently resettled refugees in the City of Windsor. By addressing the specific needs of refugees, the design proposal focuses on the domains of integration which are currently lacking in the city: Social bridges (the social connection between refugees), housing, education, and health (Ager & Strang, 2008). The proposed intervention is to be located within Windsor’s city center, where majority of the refugee resettlement services exist, and near ethnic enclaves that are frequented by large immigrant populations. Trauma-informed and culturally sensitive design practices were used to ensure that the design addresses both physical/tangible and social aspects of integration, which lead to self-sufficiency, economic independence, and psycho-social belonging.
By mid-2022, the UNHCR determined 103 million people had been forcibly displaced worldwide. Of these, 32.5 million are refugees; people that flee outside the borders of their country to find safety. Canada has a long history of refuge and has pledged to increase their resettlement efforts in the coming years. This pledge should prompt researchers and practitioners of all disciplines to analyze how their systems and processes support, or hinder, refugee integration into Canadian society. As Canada continues to resettle more refugees, the country and its citizens must be prepared to accommodate and support specific refugee needs to ensure that they pursue successful and fulfilled lives.
This thesis utilizes an intersubjective and contextual framework to investigate the experiences of refugees throughout their resettlement in Canada. The goal of this effort is to understand the gaps in refugee resettlement efforts, and how these gaps may be addressed spatially. Architectural interventions will be proposed to promote successful refugee integration into Canadian society and culture.
This thesis is framed around five concepts: resettlement, integration, self-sufficiency & economic independence, psycho-social belonging, and housing preparedness. Ager and Strang’s model for refugee integration (2008) was key in informing this thesis. Rather than proposing a new framework, Ager and Strang’s model is accepted in this thesis as a good understanding of refugee needs and an appropriate measure of successful integration. This model outlines ten domains which promote physical and tangible aspects of integration (self-sufficiency), and the social and intangible aspects of integration (psycho-social wellbeing).
The concept of dwelling as it relates to refugee integration is informed by numerous architectural case studies, like the work of 546 Architecture who designed Welcome Place, a refugee reception center in Winnipeg, and ISSofBC, who have spearheaded a new model for refugee integration through their LEED certified facility in Vancouver, BC.
Quantitative data sourced from Statistics Canada and other government sources were used to support the claims of unaffordable housing and refugee resettlement. Qualitative data from interviews confirmed that refugee’s greatest struggle while resettling in the context of Windsor, Ontario, is finding appropriate and affordable housing. These interviews also revealed socio-cultural habits of Syrian refugees who resettled in Windsor from 2015-2016.
This thesis aims to address the primary research question: How can architecture aid in the integration of refugees into society? The investigations which were used to study this question are based on the understanding that integration is a desirable outcome and is measured by the core domains of the integration model (Ager & Strang, 2008). Since this thesis utilizes a contextual approach, the following question was derived: What are the opportunities for intervention in the process of refugee resettlement to Windsor, ON? The goal of these investigations is to propose a contextually-sensitive architectural intervention in the City of Windsor which is informed by literature and first-hand refugee experiences. This intervention will promote the integration of refugees into society by fulfilling a refugee’s need for self-sufficiency, economic independence, and psycho-social belonging.
Spatial design which is contextually-driven and informed by user feedback has the ability to improve the lives of the users that inhabit them. This thesis advocates for the thoughtful design of spaces as a means for suffering populations to improve their overall quality of life. In this particular thesis, the users are refugees which have specific needs and suffer from many external hardships that architecture cannot directly address but can indirectly improve on. For example, architecture can directly support tangible aspects of integration by providing accommodating and affordable housing for the immediate shelter of refugees during their first few weeks in Canada. Further, architecture can support the intangible aspects of integration by creating space that allows for social programming. By focusing efforts on both physical and social needs, refugees will achieve self-sufficiency and psycho-social belonging more seamlessly than if these efforts were not provided.
The investigations were performed using a mixed-method approach. Mapping was used not only as a tool to analyze quantitative data, but also as a means to understand the qualitative aspects of the chosen site. Interviews of refugee families and community coordinators were conducted to gain a better understanding of refugee experiences and gaps in refugee resettlement efforts. These types of investigations uncovered specific struggles which were tied to the Windsor context such as housing affordability, access to mobility, and refugee isolation.
Opposing views may argue that refugees have resettled into Canadian society successfully in previous years. This view is supported by the data which proves that refugees over the span of 5 years tend to maintain employment and find better housing (Statistics Canada). While the long-term trajectory of refugees in Canada is positive, the focus of this thesis is on the initial phase of resettlement, the first year, when refugees are in their most vulnerable state.
The greatest obstacle in the research of this study was building trust with the refugee population and the government-funded resettlement organizations which serve refugees. Their hesitancy in providing information resulted in a greater amount of assumption by the researcher to fill in the gaps. These assumptions, while informed by literature and precedent, can be challenged.
Further, the design proposal and findings are influenced by the interviews done in the community. Although this information is valuable, only two interviews were completed; one from a Syrian refugee and one from a community organizer who regularly aided Syrian refugees from 2015-2016. The design proposal would have benefited from the completion of multiple interviews.
The process and findings of this study are valuable to the discipline of architecture because they promote the understanding that architecture impacts humans on more than just a physical level. Architecture can be a catalyst for change and can improve the psycho-social relations of people to themselves, to others, and to their surroundings.
2023-10-16T00:00:00ZManitou Miikana
http://hdl.handle.net/10429/2472
Manitou Miikana
Lavigne, Jack
Manitou Miikana explores the potential of developing communal experiences as a means of addressing historical and tourist-related concerns within the Canadian rural landscape. The creation of these experiences also seeks to foster a deeper connection and respect for our natural environment. However, each context in Canada must be studied independently to facilitate a meaningful analysis and conceptual intervention. This statement is informed by the concepts of people’s sense of place that exist in a specific location and placeknowing. Placeknowing specifically speaks to the importance of contextually informed design, which is influenced by community understanding and societal interest. Manitoulin Island in Ontario, Canada, was selected as a site to study the potential and underlying challenges in rural areas due to its unique context, significant history, and the researcher’s connection to the location.
The intention of this study was to analyze the existing challenges and issues specific to Manitoulin Island. These challenges relate to the increase in tourism and the resulting disconnections between residents and tourists. Observations of resident-tourist dynamics revealed preexisting issues which relate to the historical disconnections between indigenous and non-indigenous communities. With the issues identified, the investigation looks to create meaningful and engaging communal experiences that will provide a sense of connection to the Island and its community, including resident groups and the increasing number of tourists. Several methods were used to understand the issues, needs, and challenges specific to Manitoulin, including analysis of historical treaties, community meetings and community engagement reports, resident and tourist interviews, architectural and rural case studies, and on-site documentation of conditions across seasons.
The outcomes of these studies revealed a specific desire for deeper connections between indigenous and non-indigenous residents. While tourists are interested in a more profound experience relating to the Island’s environment and history, which would build resident and tourist relationships. Multiple frameworks were designed to address Manitoulin at the island, community, and individual scales. These scales are connected through the decided approach for Manitoulin: a pedestrian path network that will simultaneously address the lack of community linkages while creating an overall experience that brings attention to the environment and history, building awareness, respect, and understanding for both aspects. Supporting indoor spaces and wayfinding elements were developed, which emulate geological history as well as contemporary and historical Canadian art philosophies, providing further space for collective recreation and education.
The resulting proposal illustrates that interventions which support communal experiences address more than lacking physical connections but also emerging and historical issues and needs. The research demonstrates the ability to learn from a community and provide a comprehensive strategy rooted in its context. This strategy can influence design interventions for other rural contexts in Canada that are similar to Manitoulin Island.
Our inherent desire for a nature-based connection leads to the search for and exploration of rural communities and their predominantly natural settings. This anthropogenic form of visitation produces rifts between the tourists, the established community, and the environment. The tourism growth in these locations can stimulate opportunities and economic benefits for residents and businesses but advertises further capacity for increased development. Manitoulin Island, a large Island off the north coast of Lake Huron in Ontario, Canada, presents the opportunity for analyses and action in relation to these challenges. However, the recent increase in tourism on Manitoulin Island only highlighted pre-existing problems within its established communities. These challenges comprise of community and cultural disconnections as well as poor collaborations between stakeholders due to historical challenges, the Island’s vast scale, and the absence of a unified governing organization. To ensure a resilient future for Manitoulin Island, it is crucial to address the changing tourism landscape and the persistent issues facing it through a cohesive and connected intervention.
The recent Manitoulin Island adaptation strategy was used as a framework for determining the needs of the Island and outlining a design strategy to address them. A main concept revealed from the public engagement reports within the adaptation strategy was accessibility involving the desire for pedestrian and cycling trails that connect communities with shared amenities. Research of comparable regions, such as Tobermory and Muskoka in Lake Huron, was conducted to identify common problems related to over-tourism and overcrowding that causes a strain on resident tourist relations and the quality of the environment. These regions illustrated the need to rethink the current mode of tourism and how the industry integrates with the established communities. In combination with existing challenges, a distinctive and interrelated design approach is essential. Placeknowing is an alternative concept to Placemaking that leverages the existing identity and culture to inform community planning and raises awareness of the intricate and turbulent history of Manitoulin. Additionally, sustainability is a critical concept for creating a resilient community that encompasses the resident-tourist relationship and the placeknowing concept. Sustainability involves balancing environmental, social, and economic aspects.
For this reason, the following research questions were asked: How can an intervention or experience influence a shift to the current mode of tourism on Manitoulin Island, taking into account the established community and environment? What opportunities exist to create new spaces that foster positive connections and relationships across Manitoulin? How can the proposed intervention or experience align with the unique character of Manitoulin Island and inspire future development to be in line with it? How can Manitoulin Extend its active period and promote opportunities for community-based growth?
This context-led study aims to enhance the rural landscape of Manitoulin through the creation of a physical network comprised of pedestrian and non-motorized pathways with supporting architectural elements, which promote community and tourism connection, education, engagement, traditional mobility, and preservation. These conceptual connections are designed to facilitate an alternative method to tourism on Manitoulin that reflects the values of both indigenous and non-indigenous residents. At the same time, this concept addresses the current concerns of the residents going beyond tourism and serves as a foundation for the future growth and development of Manitoulin Island.
The recent public engagement conducted by the Municipality of Central Manitoulin serves as a starting point for the design with the needs of established communities. This engagement was further refined through mixed methods, including in-depth personal interviews, which detail the resident’s perspectives. On-site observations involved travelling across the Island by car and hiking when possible, along with photographs and videos capturing the current conditions of the Island. This visit to Manitoulin revealed the lack of connection between urban communities and the natural environment. The number of inaccessible spaces outside the core tourist areas also became apparent through this exploration. These experiences led to the analysis of strategies which lay the foundation for forming linkages and determining the impact of different program elements like the design of the PEI Island Walk and Joe Louis Greenway.
The conceptual strategy and the preceding Three-Scale Framework were developed considering the recent Manitoulin Adaptation Strategy and the concerns expressed during the aforementioned public engagements and supplemental interviews. However, the bias of the researcher remains a factor. The designer has the final say on the placement of pathways, rest areas, washrooms, new program and what they perceive will be successful. There is also division among residents of Manitoulin Island regarding development, with some who would be opposed to this intervention. It will be important to emphasize the direct benefits to the Island’s overall sustainability this concept can provide.
The inherent bias of the designer will always be a valid point of criticism, particularly when working in a context where they are not a resident. Despite the level of engagement and research conducted, the final design will ultimately reflect the designer’s personal vision and beliefs. The large scale of Manitoulin Island and the complexities of land ownership present additional challenges in implementing such a comprehensive proposal. Finally, while there is evidence of growing interest in slow adventure tourism and a desire for this type of intervention from residents, the true success of the proposal can only be determined through actual implementation.
Architects often overlook rural areas in their efforts to address urban issues. In Canada, it has become increasingly important to support rural communities in their planning efforts due to the growing tourism industry and the challenges it presents. By fostering connections between communities and between residents and tourists, a socially sustainable environment can be created through collaboration and shared opportunities. This connection can also provide residents and tourists with a closer relationship to their history and environment, promoting education and exposure to the natural environment. It also leads to a more conscious mindset regarding their ecological effect. The methods for implementation, program, and Placeknowing can be utilized in related contexts.
2023-05-12T00:00:00ZInformal Urbanism
http://hdl.handle.net/10429/2471
Informal Urbanism
Klopp, John
This thesis aims to address the challenges faced by informal settlements in Latin America due to the lack of open public space. The thesis proposes urbanized spaces that build a relationship with the street, providing additional assets and improving the quality of life in the neighborhood. Informal settlements in Latin America are known for their lack of basic services and inadequate living conditions. One of the most pressing issues in these areas is the absence of open public spaces. With the increase in population density, the demand for space has become a critical concern for city planners, designers, and local organizations. The central question of this thesis is whether providing open public spaces to informal settlements would truly benefit the residents. The thesis critiques the existing arguments for open space and proposes alternative solutions that blend urbanized public planning with the informal settlement’s unique atmosphere. This study employs a qualitative research approach, combining a review of the literature with case studies of informal settlements in Latin America. The research methodology includes interviews with residents, city planners, and local organizations to gather data and insights into the challenges of informal settlements. Creating 3d models and maps of built environment and circulation along the street environment allows for the understanding of life and activity of the informal settlement. The study finds that providing open public space to informal settlements can improve the quality of life for residents. However, it is crucial to design these spaces to be functional, safe, and accessible to all. The study also highlights the need for city planners, designers, and local organizations to blend urbanized public planning with the informal settlement’s unique atmosphere. The study concludes that the proposed solutions can be implemented to improve the quality of life for residents in informal settlements. City planners, designers, and local organizations can benefit from the insights provided in this thesis to plan and organize these areas better. The thesis emphasizes the need for development and resources to be allocated to these areas, as informal settlements across the world continue to rise. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by informal settlements in Latin America and proposes solutions that can be implemented to improve the quality of life of their residents. Future research can build on these findings to develop more effective strategies to address the challenges of informal settlements globally.
This thesis focuses on addressing the challenges of informal settlements in Latin America caused by a lack of open public space. The urban fabric of the informal settlement is highlighted by the street environment, where residents engage in a variety of activities due to the lack of space. However, the informal still lacks space in the dense urban fabric, and by suggesting forms of urbanized spaces that build a relationship with the street, it will provide additional assets such as places of refuge within the informal and increase the quality of life in the neighborhood.
The study aims to answer the following research questions: What forms of public space and program would influence/relate back to the culture of the informal street? Through public space, what aspect of the informal is it solving? What characteristics of the street are vital to the cultural identity of the informal? By conducting qualitative investigations through on-site observations, interviews with locals, mapping, photos, and cinematography, the study gathers evidence to support the thesis. The thesis argues that open public space is lacking in the informal settlements, and the streets transform to become the primary form of public space where residents engage in various activities. However, residents still feel closed off and suffer from the lack of space in the informal, and adapting open space can highlight the importance of the street and also provide a sense of a higher quality of life in the informal.
One potential critique of the study is whether having open space would truly benefit the informal settlements, and how it would blend into the fabric of the unique urban network of streets. However, the thesis argues that open spaces tied to street life would allow for the informal to physically break away from the dense urban network of streets and provide elements of acupuncture within. The study acknowledges the subjective nature of open space and that it may not be a necessity for survival but will become an oasis to the residents.
In conclusion, this thesis provides city planners, designers, and local organizations the opportunity to blend urbanized public planning with the informal to not hinder the unique atmosphere of the informal but to merge and relate to it. As informal settlements across the world continue to rise, the development and resources that go into planning and organizing these areas also need to increase.
2023-05-12T00:00:00Z