Urban Interactions: Integration and Revitalization through Architectural intervention in deteriorated Urban Communities

Abstract

The thesis is an investigation of deteriorating neighbourhoods within North America and the issue of integration within revitalization plans. Looking at how these neighbourhoods establish their identity, what can be done to promote equality and the tools needed to do so. This will be done by first studying revitalization models and identifying key principles that have shown to be successful. The thesis proposes to create a framework demonstrating how to approach deteriorating neighbourhoods within the urban fabric, while reinforcing the importance of working with what the community already has and searching for ways / methods of adding to it. The site is in downtown Edmonton, Alberta between 97th Street – 93rd Street and 101st Ave – 103A Ave also known as the Boyle street neighbourhood. This area has had a long history of prostitution, drug abuse and crime and the community has slowly dissipated.