Re-sorting Resort Towns: Integrating Program to Dissolve Social Segregation in Resort Communities

Abstract

This thesis will investigate how architecture can mitigate the negative social, cultural and environmental impacts in resource-based communities as they transform their economy to include tourism. Fernie, British Columbia, will be used as the test site for this thesis as current patterns of tourism led development have contributed to social segregation and unauthentic building within this traditional mining community. This thesis reimagines the built environment using the sustainable development framework, the notion of dwelling in a place and sociological needs. The architectural solution contributes to the local economy; focuses on social inclusion through design and programming; and understands the cultural context and the ecology of the place. In aggregate, these principles offer a methodology for designing within resource-based communities by using tourism to strengthen their communities.