Open Collections

Theall, Kathryn

Suburbia is a rich cultural landscape with woven fabrics of form and its own cultural identities distinct from metropolitan form necessitating distinct child-friendly sustainable urbanization. Suburbs in Canada are experiencing rapid growth, driven in large part by families with children and mandated by growth policies. In response the Ontario government has proposed a strategy of vertical growth through the construction of super tall towers around major transit stations, while largely maintaining existing residential neighborhoods. Although this approach may promote a more sustainable, transit-oriented lifestyle around transit stations, it fails to address the ongoing sustainability challenges of existing suburbs, which continue to produce higher emissions each year. Moreover, the environmental impact associated with constructing tall towers and the factors driving suburban settlement, particularly the needs of children, remain unaddressed. This project asserts that the future of sustainable suburban growth requires an understanding of suburbia’s cultural richness and a shared commitment to childhood values, manifested through a uniquely child-friendly design. This design should strategically adapt existing neighborhoods to cater to the needs of families, promoting sustainability and growth. The project report embarks on a comprehensive exploration of existing suburbs, delving into mini-essays on suburbia and society, suburbia and children, and suburbia and sustainability. It summarizes various suburban typologies, as developed by Dolores Hayden, before narrowing its focus to the Census Metropolitan Area of Toronto, pinpointing the South-East Oakville region as the project site. The design narrative unfolds as a storybook, recounting the rationale for returning to the suburbs and reflecting on past childhood experiences in suburban settings. These reflections inform the creation of a community-oriented mixed-use plan, centered around the well-being and development of children.

Toronto Census Metropolitan Area; Oakville (ON)

Text

University of British Columbia. ARCH 549

Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library

10.14288/1.0438341

Applied Science, Faculty of; Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), School of

Unreviewed

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/