The Living Yard: Re-Making the Public Square for Community Identity

Abstract

How do we design and develop in urban areas where we are witnessing the social impacts of gentrification? Through adaptive reuse, this thesis will investigate issues of the gentrification process in the North End of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Looking for inclusive development models to mitigate issues of identity loss and community retention in changing neighbourhoods, and provide new ways to interact with the public square, a living yard. These ideas will be considered through an adaptive reuse project of Saint Patrick’s Alexandra Junior High School in Halifax’s North End. Through study of the systems of oppression within Halifax and meetings with representatives of the different communities directly implicated in the future of this site, this thesis intends to understand the needs of these stakeholders and provide a programmatic response that enables inclusive growth for all.