From Monument to Living Narrative: Resurrecting the Halifax Memorial Library

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.