Working Tidal: Making Peace with the Avon River

Abstract

This thesis explores the role of architecture in mediating ecological restoration and social reconciliation along the Avon River in Windsor, Nova Scotia. In response to the contested legacy of the Windsor Causeway, the project proposes a tidal amphitheatre, a pedestrian bridge, and an indoor theatre, each designed to respond to the Bay of Fundy’s tidal rhythms. Drawing from fluvial geomorphology, Indigenous treaty rights, and climate adaptation, the design frames water as a collaborator rather than an obstacle. The architecture responds to the movement of the River, turning parts of the site into spaces where people can witness the tide’s return. Through sensory engagement and ecological integration, the project reimagines public infrastructure as both a learning space and a tool for participation. Rather than offering fixed solutions, the architecture embraces change, acting as a medium that communities can witness, respond to, and begin to repair the ecological and cultural divide of a fragmented river system.