On an Island In-Between: Utilizing Paradox as a Catalyst for Change in the Adaptive Reuse of Her Majesty’s Penitentiary

Abstract

This thesis seeks to utilize paradox as a guiding concept in the adaptive reuse of Her Majesty’s Penitentiary, a Victorian-era prison located on the shore of Quidi Vidi Lake in St. John’s Newfoundland. The reuse strategy proposes the activation of the former prison by integrating it into the recreational programs surrounding the lake. The addition of social support services on the site will address Newfoundland’s lack of support for those re-entering their community after incarceration. Positioned at the intersection of conflicting narratives - connection and isolation, punishment and rehabilitation, destruction and conservation - the project seeks to honour the site while envisioning a community-oriented future. Within this framework of opposition, the project asks the question: can paradox be used as a catalyst for positive change in sites with difficult histories? If so, how can architecture frame opposing narratives, creating moments of duality and reflection by telling two stories at once?