From Monument to Living Narrative: Resurrecting the Halifax Memorial Library
Date
2025-07-31
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Abstract
This thesis proposes the adaptive reuse of the Halifax Memorial Library, transforming it
from a static monument into an active civic space. Inspired by Andrew Shanken's The
Everyday Life of Memorials, the design explores how memorial sites can be integrate into
the city's daily rhythms, moving beyond periodic activation.
The core intervention directly embeds the library's layered history and narratives into
its architecture, blurring the line between the sacred and the everyday. This approach
allows the building to function as a dynamic, lived environment rather than a passive
commemorative object.
To embody these narratives, the design introduces three archetypal characters: The
Archivist, The Pauper and The Steward. Derived from the site's historical traces, these
characters serve as narrative agents and spatial guides throughout the building. The result
is a library that actively participates in the life of the city, bridging past and present to
become a living storyteller.
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Keywords
adaptive reuse, storytelling, memorial, experience