Open Collections

Abstract

Spontaneous urban plants, a.k.a. weeds, thrive in the cracks of sidewalks, buildings, and at the base of fences. They are often overlooked and thought of as a nuisance. How can encouraging feral, edible landscapes in the city make us more self-sufficient? How can re-framing our conceptions of these plants connect us to each other? This thesis explores ideas of plant utility, community building, and challenges current urban planning guidelines. Set in our modern-day urban commons, the lane, this project follows the changes in a typical Vancouver residential block over three successions.