Between Invisibility and Presence: Negotiating Islamic Community Space in Halifax

Abstract

This thesis examines how Islamic community spaces in Halifax, Nova Scotia negotiate visibility, identity, and religious practice within inherited urban buildings not designed for Islamic use. As the Muslim population grows, most institutions operate in adapted warehouses and commercial structures, resulting in spatial constraints and limited civic legibility. Focusing on the Sabeel Islamic Youth and Community Centre along the Bedford Highway, the project investigates how architecture can mediate between religious needs, community growth, and redevelopment pressure. Rather than pursuing relocation, the thesis proposes transforming the existing warehouse through layered thresholds, vertical reorganization, and adaptable sacred space. By retaining the structural shell and reconfiguring circulation, program, and visibility, the design supports everyday negotiation between public and sacred life. The project positions adaptive reuse as an architectural strategy that strengthens cultural presence while remaining embedded within its urban context.