Preserving the Intangible Qualities of a Building Culture: A Case Study in Windsor, N.S.

Abstract

The land-based infrastructure of the Nova Scotian boat building culture is studied in this thesis to explore how the intangible qualities of a building culture can be understood through architectural ideas. The study finds the infrastructure associate with this industry to be closely tied to adaptive and resourceful attitudes toward this built environment. From this, combined with intimate knowledge of materials, structural principles, and an environment where incredibly malleable buildings are created, emerges a unique approach to problem solving and design. In order to propagate these qualities into the future this thesis proposes a design-build school that would embody these principles. The adaptive re-use design of the school will facilitate students learning through direct interaction and manipulation of the building that houses the school. This, along with the knowledge of the faculty, will foster a culture of problem solving and design in the same spirit as Nova Scotian boat builders.