Housing Agonism: Radical Architectures of Democracy, Participation, and Conflict in Halifax

Abstract

This thesis explores how radical interpretations of architecture can foster and encourage conflict as a productive form of participatory democracy. Agonistic Pluralism, a branch of Radical Democracy theories, argues that beliefs, values, and morals are not easily categorized into political affiliations, and irreconcilable differences can be displayed in non-violent ways. Housing, associated amenities, and public spaces can be designed to encourage productive forms of conflict, self-determination, and interactions that assist in questioning our current understanding of value, land use, transactions, and spatial paradigms. This thesis explores critical theory, urban studies, and the mapping of Halifax’s context to identify the problematic understanding of housing for those in need and the housing crisis in general. It proposes a democratic housing model that supports self-organization, spontaneous environments and reinforces the home and public spaces as places of negotiation that can bring co-creating ideals into the broader urban fabric.