Thesis defence

Thesis defence: Diana Si

Ryan Ferguson — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 20:18:08 +0000

Thesis defence: Diana Si Ryan Ferguson Mon, 07/15/2024 - 16:18

Crafting Agency: Head in Hand

Abstract:

Through a typology of leather artifacts this thesis aims to examine the value of craft with an architectural mindset. Contemporary craft is no longer a labour of necessity, instead, agency over artifacts which surround our everyday life draws many individuals to devote time and energy to such activities. The investment of time and care into objects that are created with materials and tools gathered by an individual is a rarity in this world of instant gratification.

Leather has specific qualities that make it an enchanting material to work with; durability and breathability being two characteristics that make it hard to imitate artificially. In crafting these items, I became intimate with leather as a material, its texture, where it is sourced, how it ages and gains character, along with the tools I use.

Each artifact is a medium in which an investigation into the philosophies behind making, design and a way of life takes place. With these considerations in mind, it is easy to draw parallels to a thoughtful architectural practice.

The examining committee is as follows:

Supervisor: Marie-Paule Macdonald
Committee member: Eric Haldenby
Internal-external reader: Jaliya Fonseka
External: Christine Leu

The defence examination will take place:
Thursday, August 1, 2024, 10:00 a.m.
In-person, ARCH 3003 - Loft.
A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Thesis defence: Likhitha Varikuti

Ryan Ferguson — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 20:15:26 +0000

Thesis defence: Likhitha Varikuti Ryan Ferguson Mon, 07/15/2024 - 16:15

The Descent to Water - Revitalization of the Ashapura Mata Stepwell in India

Abstract:

This thesis explores the restoration of a primitive water architectural typology indigenous to the Indian subcontinent known as Stepwells. Stepwells or Vavs are ancient subterranean structures designed with complex engineering and utmost precision to harvest groundwater. As the name suggests, Stepwells or stepped wells are a series of steps that lead down to a water well. They were vital in providing a water source and acted as a communal gathering space.

Stepwells prevailed for centuries and were shut down during colonial rule as the British considered the water in the wells unsanitary and introduced new water harvesting techniques. The wells, once vital for the communities, are deteriorating to a state of disrepair and are now used as dumping grounds. Considering how the stepwells have played a crucial role in shaping the water architecture typology in India, it becomes essential to revive these wells so that their historical and cultural values are preserved for generations to come.

On a parallel tangent, with the growing population and rapid urbanization in India, there has been a significant drop in water tables leading to groundwater depletion. This water crisis issue calls for conservation and effective groundwater management. While the stepwells provided an infrastructure for harvesting groundwater in the past, restoring them would help with groundwater recharge and contribute to reviving the lost heritage.

Along with the restoration of the stepwell as an artifact, this thesis project proposes small-scale, architectural interventions to help with creating a resilient and self-sustaining community around the stepwell. The revitalization of the Ashapura Mata Stepwell and its surrounding neighbourhood proposes to act as an urban catalyst model for providing restoration strategies for other stepwells in the country.

The examining committee is as follows:

Supervisor: Val Rynnimeri
Committee member: Tara Bissett
Internal-external reader: Rick Andrighetti
External: Kim Storey

The defence examination will take place:
Thursday, August 1, 2024, 10:00 a.m.
In-person, ARC2026 - Ventin Room.
A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Thesis defence: Anmol Billa

Ryan Ferguson — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 20:11:54 +0000

Thesis defence: Anmol Billa Ryan Ferguson Mon, 07/15/2024 - 16:11

Revival: A study of regeneration for unitised curtain walls in Healthcare sector

Abstract:

This study examines the circular potential of current aluminium curtain wall facades, primarily through strategies such as reuse, refurbishment, and remanufacture. The goal was to investigate ways to maximise the value of materials that still have utility before they reach the end of their service life. Given the significant human impact on the environment, including climate change, resource depletion, and ecosphere damage, the debate is especially appropriate for the third decade of the 21st century. Buildings are a substantial source of environmental disruption, accounting for a significant portion of energy consumption, waste generation, and carbon emissions. The construction industry is working to reduce operational carbon emissions and enhance occupant safety. However, there is little focus on embodied carbon and the retrieval of valuable materials in the early design phase, particularly in complex facade systems. Critical and vigorous action is needed to cut CO2 emissions by half by 2030, as highlighted by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The building industry must prioritise managing embodied carbon, particularly the high-carbon-intensity materials found in curtain walls, such as aluminium and glass, which account for over 50% of a building's total lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to building operations.

To address global issues, the development of Toronto's healthcare infrastructure from the 1970s onwards, with ongoing renovations, particularly focusing on its building systems, has become a potential model for studying, analysing, and applying sustainable practices. Hospitals such as SickKids, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto General Hospital, and others are currently updating their building exteriors, including their curtain wall systems, with a focus on implementing comprehensive strategies to create a more sustainable built environment. Finding alternatives for building facades, especially aluminium curtain walls, is crucial. It's crucial to incorporate end-of-life plans for new products and strategies for older ones to combat the "take makedispose" culture", especially in Toronto's healthcare sector. A forensic analysis, including a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), is being carried out to measure the quantity and quality of curtain walls and to assess the potential carbon emissions produced by facilities like the Patient Support Centre (Research site) at SickKids in Toronto. Additionally, a mixed-method approach, combining interviews with international facade and material experts and case studies, is being used to investigate the possibility of implementing circular practices through the practice of Design for Disassembly (DfD) in the future.

The DfD practice is customised and adapted to the research site (PSC building), reflecting the opportunity to reuse, refurbish, and remanufacture the unitised aluminium curtain walls and offering guidance for handling such complex facade systems. The findings of the practice present a structure for diminishing resource depletion and improving value preservation of aluminium unitised curtain walls in the facade industry. The thesis also acknowledges the relatable risks and uncertainties and highlights the necessity for incentives for manufacturers, clients, and policymakers.

The examining committee is as follows:

Supervisor: John McMinn
Committee member: Terri Meyer Boake
Internal-external reader: John Straube
External: Amr El-Bahrawy

The defence examination will take place:
Wednesday, July 31, 2024, 3:00 p.m.
In-person, ARCH 3003 - Loft.
A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Thesis defence: Anna Supryka

Ryan Ferguson — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 20:08:53 +0000

Thesis defence: Anna Supryka Ryan Ferguson Mon, 07/15/2024 - 16:08

Between fields and meadows: A strategy for naturalistic sport landscape across liminal urban spaces

Abstract:

This thesis explores the productive intersection between often-separated ‘sport landscapes’ and ‘landscapes of biodiversity’ through the redesign of Strachan Street linear park in the city of Hamilton, Ontario, as a biodiverse sport landscape. The site of an abandoned road expansion, the linear park connects two major urban parks (Bayfront Park, Jackie Washington Park) but divides the waterfrontadjacent North End neighbourhood from downtown-adjacent Central and Beasley neighbourhoods. As the urban core of Hamilton is set to double over the next five decades, the development of this underutilized threshold to the invaluable waterfront is inevitable.

The city of Hamilton has stated two critical needs: 1) enhanced public engagement with biodiversity by introducing forest-garden types (wild-growing, uninterrupted ‘meadows’) into urban areas, and 2) the continued development of a robust recreation network that is responsive of proximity, access, and amenity related needs (maintained, well-groomed ‘fields’). The incorporation of public space into reclaimed post industrial landscapes, such as Strachan Street linear park, has precedent in Hamilton, but a key challenge is how design can resolve the incorporation of these seemingly conflicting public space typologies within\ increasingly confined urban space.

The sports-driven ‘field’ type alone cannot satisfy the multi-faceted ways that Hamiltonians participate in play, though a fully biodiversity-driven ‘meadow’ approach negates the intense need for formal play spaces. These types also pose limits: the systematization of sport has degraded the play-quality and the forest garden is a relatively new type that often lacks the amenities to invigorate use beyond a singular program. Therefore, the thesis explores how architecture can mediate between outdoor sport and biodiversity using the common theme of play. Case studies explore dimensions of ‘sport landscapes’ and ‘landscapes of biodiversity’ that correspond to existing site conditions as a method of informing the design.

The thesis explores three typologies that bring ‘sport landscapes’ and ‘landscapes of biodiversity’ into close friction: 1) Woodland: a textural and lush forest-garden, containing native perennials and low growing shrubs, with light-frame, simplistic structures for play that mingle with vegetation; 2) Orchard: niches of \ sun-loving berry orchards with multi-purpose sport areas, mediated by structures for climbing, sitting, harvesting, growing; 3) Nursery: the adaptive re-use of post-industrial sites for seed and tree production with flexible sport and play areas created amidst the shuffling of potted plants and seasonal growth.

The proposal is a set of design guidelines reflective of Hamilton’s network of environmental and recreation stewards that be further investigated. Future versions should be developed in collaboration with these groups to convey options for planning, construction, maintenance, and funding. Though this site was selected for its urban connectivity, the proximity to the active railway comes with considerable safety hazards that require further environmental study, including air, noise, and soil pollution studies. It is envisioned that Strachan Street becomes a central spine of activity and biodiversity that support crossdisciplinary engagement, access, and movement by a diverse population from multiple neighbourhoods; however, additional research must be directed towards community social dynamics to ensure the project effectively mediates and equitably represents ‘the public.’

Thus, this thesis forms the basis for design guidelines for a biodiverse sport landscape from an architectural perspective that questions the role of public parks in everyday life: the recall of wildness, bounded and boundless sport, and community enrichment via engagement with people and land.

The examining committee is as follows:

Supervisor: Jane Mah Hutton
Committee member: Lola Sheppard
Internal-external reader: Lesia Mokrycke
External: Zahra Awang

The defence examination will take place:
Wednesday, July 31, 2024, 3:00 p.m.
In-person, ARC2026 - Ventin Room.
A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Thesis defence: Ali Salama

Ryan Ferguson — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 20:05:49 +0000

Thesis defence: Ali Salama Ryan Ferguson Mon, 07/15/2024 - 16:05

Wahdat al Wujud: the Moroccan madrasa, Zellige tiles, and Sufi ontology

Abstract:

Wahdat al wujud—loosely translated as unity of being—is a Sufi philosophical concept that refers to the oneness or collectivity of our entire consciousness. This thesis aims to reframe our understanding of space through an exploration of wahdat al wujud. Today, our modern societies and spaces overwhelmingly neglect our unity of being. Capitalism clouds our hearts so that empathy and care become commodities we don’t want to spend, and the increasingly fast pace of daily life leaves little room for reflection on the great loss of our collectivity. We grow more alienated and become increasingly distant from one another and the world at large. Our spaces only further this alienation, neglecting their vital role as the realizers of our interconnected being.

Architecture is a cosmological act. Samer Akkach talks about how cosmology and architecture were intimately tied in the premodern Islamic tradition. Spaces reflected our understanding of the universe and fostered our place within it. The link between cosmology and architecture has been lost to our modern conceptions of the practice. The Moroccan madrasa and Zellige tiles serve as reminders and key case studies of this link, connecting architecture with the cosmological view of wahdat al wujud.
The Moroccan madrasa is a space of teaching and learning based around a central courtyard where students congregate. The courtyard is adorned by intricate enamelled terracotta tiles, known as Zellige. The spatial configuration of the madrasa symbolically reflects the philosophy of wahdat al wujud at the cosmic scale; connecting God, human and world. At the same time, its phenomenological qualities nurture a profound experience of awe and belonging as a part of this wahdat al wujud. In the madrasa, our entire perception of existence is redefined: being becomes a collective experience and not an individual one; we perceive ourselves as part of a communal oneness, akin to the Sufi analogy of being drops in the ocean.

To break the cycle of alienating architecture, we need to rediscover the link between cosmology and architecture. If our architecture fosters a vision of communal being, our built environment can instead perpetuate a cycle of collective belonging. Architecture is not just a backdrop for human activity but the essential conduit that shapes and defines our entire existence. It can reconnect us to our fundamental unity, fostering our empathy and care for one another and the world at large.

The examining committee is as follows:

Supervisor: Tara Bissett
Committee member: Robert Jan Van Pelt
Internal-external reader: Jaliya Fonseka
External: M. Shobhana Xavier

The defence examination will take place:
Wednesday, July 31, 2024, 1:00 p.m.
In-person, - ARC1110 - Founders Lounge.
A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Thesis defence: Cassandra Lesage Fongué

Ryan Ferguson — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 20:01:41 +0000

Thesis defence: Cassandra Lesage Fongué Ryan Ferguson Mon, 07/15/2024 - 16:01

Ultraviolet Gardens

Abstract:

We live in a world shrouded in greenness. A world made of places, of places made of sites, of sites which make the landscape. I speak to all current and latent gardeners; to all of those unaware, yet fascinated by green.

Ultraviolet Gardens invites you into a photographic garden; a reframing of how ‘green’ has been, can be, seen and rediscovered; to find greenness within plastic plants, fuzzy chlorophyll, and the illusions of green.

Within ultraviolet gardens, the banal and mundane are estranged, and as such made visible. With film and photo making, I share the strange dimensions of greenness that arise in familiar places. Central to the argument is that a rediscovery of green must happen first by estrangement of the body, of both the external optics of vision and the internal perceptions of the mind.

In the photographic process, an image is created when light reacts with a light sensitive surface. Silver halides are permanently converted to elemental silver, matter is changed by other non human matter; put in contact they create the repository of images central to this thesis: The Aesthetic of Contact.

Not simply an image, the photograph, unlike painting or architectural drawing, shares more then just likeness to its subject; it is a part of, or an extension of its reality.

I use camera-less and camera-using photography to curate a garden of images, not of ‘others’, but made in collaboration; autobiographies of the nonhuman. I seek through them an (un)representation of green that does not come from my sight, nor from architecture’s primacy of vision; a way of seeing capable of awakening a fascination of greenness.

The examining committee is as follows:

Supervisor: Linda Zhang
Committee member: Jane Mah Hutton
Internal-external reader: Fiona Lim Tung
External: Christian Flemm

The defence examination will take place:
Wednesday, July 31, 2024, 11:30 a.m.
In-person, ARC-1001 - Main Lecture Hall.
A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Thesis defence: Matthew Wong-Chun-Sen

Ryan Ferguson — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 19:44:47 +0000

Thesis defence: Matthew Wong-Chun-Sen Ryan Ferguson Mon, 07/15/2024 - 15:44

Harmony in Highrises for Humans and their Loyal Companions

Abstract:

The idea of a house has always been present since the beginning and as humanity underwent evolutionary transitions over the course of history, so did the understanding of what a house is. Architecturally, while houses have modernized with regard to construction methods, materiality, and technology, the essence of a home seems to have remained the same. At first glance, many who read the previous statement do not see anything wrong with it, but take a second and dig a little deeper and you will begin to realize the underlying issues within. If modern homes can be defined as permanent or semi-permanent spaces used as residences for one or more human occupants, which is clearly driven by the necessities of people, then what happens when society evolves? If the people change, shouldn’t the essence of a home change with it and be reflected in the architecture?

In the last few decades, there has been a noticeable surge in the canine population in North America, a trend that further accelerated in the wake of the 2021 pandemic (Institute 2022). While the concept of dog inclusive architecture is still in its infancy, a comprehensive synthesis can be attained by exploring the realms of both canine behavioral psychology and selective architectural philosophies. Notable figures like Aldo Van Eyck and Jane Jacobs have contributed their spatial design philosophies in public realms (Jacobs 2011), serving as foundational references. Though they didn't specifically address dogs, Eyck, for instance, explored the concept of affordances – the possibility of action - through his playground designs (Strauven 2007). Additionally, and arguably more importantly, the work of Jakob von Uexküll, a Baltic German biologist, delves into animal behavior studies and introduces the concept of Umwelt, acknowledging the unique subjective worlds of animals and humans (Uexküll 2010). Uexküll argued that different species perceive and engage with their environments differently, emphasizing the importance of comprehending these distinct perspectives to truly understand animal experiences (Uexküll 2010). Therefore, to successfully create an architecture for both humans and dogs, we must first recognize the shift society underwent to coexist with dogs and then understand their Umwelt.

This thesis aims to tackle the social neglect towards our dogs as their presence has grown in our society and challenges what the new fundamental ingredients are that structure the essence of what a modern home should be. Specifically, this research will investigate how to create a canine-inclusive design guide for high-density North American urban landscapes, by reimagining high-rise residential architecture in order to improve the everyday quality of life for our canine companions. Concepts such as inclusivity, sustainability, and building science will be considered to help guide the research, which eventually will culminate in a final design proposal in Toronto’s Liberty Village as a successful canine inclusive example. It is our responsibility as Architects to understand the fundamental distinction between a house and a home, recognizing that both are integral to the creation of successful designs. While this thesis attempts to offer a fresh perspective on architecture, it also seeks to emphasize the profound significance of the bond between humanity and our loyal canine companions - between “man-kind” and “man’s best friend”.

The examining committee is as follows:

Supervisor: Terri Meyer Boake
Committee member: David T Fortin
Internal-external reader: Val Rynnimeri
External: Amr elBahrawy

The defence examination will take place:
Wednesday, July 31, 2024, 11:00 a.m.
In-person, ARC-3003 - Loft.
A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Thesis defence: Razmig Garboushian

Ryan Ferguson — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 19:42:55 +0000

Thesis defence: Razmig Garboushian Ryan Ferguson Mon, 07/15/2024 - 15:42

Mycelium Wall Systems: Harnessing Adaptive Fabrication with Biocomposites in Buildings

Abstract:

Novel biocomposites are being investigated for the ability to customize their properties to suit numerous applications. As the most complex components of buildings, wall assemblies must mediate constantly evolving human needs for comfort and environmental performance. However, traditional construction strategies to address these complex, changing needs, such as adding more layers, are practically and environmentally inefficient. Mycelium biocomposites can combine performance properties for wall systems without the need for adding additional layers, while being biodegradable. This thesis investigates the integration of mycelium biocomposites within a natural prefabricated wall panel. This research employs three physical experiments and digital simulation to test mycelium’s growth, adhesion, and thermal performance, alongside a concurrent design development. The key impact of this research is the development of an efficient biodegradable wall construction system with a reduced number of material layers compared to typical construction. This research also provides a framework for architects to learn hands-on from the materials with which they design.

The examining committee is as follows:

Supervisor: Mohamad T. Araji
Committee member: David Correa
Internal-external reader: John McMinn
External:Robert Lepage

The defence examination will take place:
Wednesday, July 31, 2024, 10:00 a.m.
In-person ARC2026 - Ventin Room.
A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Thesis defence: Yannik Sigouin

Ryan Ferguson — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 19:36:56 +0000

Thesis defence: Yannik Sigouin Ryan Ferguson Mon, 07/15/2024 - 15:36

Ceramic 3D Printed Plant-centric Architecture

Abstract:

This thesis utilizes clay 3D printing to create ‘plant-centric architecture’, a concept defined by the author that aims to apply architectural design principles to methods of designing for plants. Traditionally valued for their aesthetic and psychological benefits, indoor plants are often objectified in contemporary architecture, serving as mere decorative elements rather than living organisms with intrinsic needs. This objectification reflects a broader trend in architectural practices where natural elements are manipulated to fit human desires, often at the expense of plant health and sustainability. On the other hand, hydroponic farming systems, which emphasize plant needs and maximize growth productivity, typically lack the aesthetic considerations of traditional architecture.

Plant-centric architecture seeks to bridge this gap by promoting a harmonious environment where the symbiosis between human and plant needs is architecturally envisioned and realized with ceramic 3D printed design. Clay is historically significant for its material qualities and aesthetic appeal, often used at a range of design scales from building facades to flowerpots. 3D printing technology has revolutionized the design use of clay, creating intricate and functional designs catering to plant and human needs. By merging traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design, this approach aims to create environments that honour the vitality of plants, enhancing their health and sustainability while contributing to enriching spatial experiences for humans.

This thesis explores and evaluates the potential of architectural clay 3D printing in developing plant-centric architecture through iterative prototyping. By leveraging scientific understandings of plant architecture with iterative ceramic 3D printed prototyping, this work has the potential to set a new standard in architectural design for plants. The work envisions fostering spaces that nurture both plants and humans, initiating a new dialogue on the future of posthuman architectural design.

The examining committee is as follows:

Supervisor: Linda Zhang
Committee member: Lola Sheppard
Internal-external reader: James Clarke-Hicks
External: Jonathon Anderson

The defence examination will take place:
Wednesday, July 31, 2024, 9:30 a.m.
In-person, ARC1110 - Founders Lounge.
A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.

Thesis defence: Kyung In (Justin) Park

Ryan Ferguson — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 19:32:08 +0000

Thesis defence: Kyung In (Justin) Park Ryan Ferguson Mon, 07/15/2024 - 15:32

Spatial Storytelling Through Augmented Reality: Toronto’s Water and the Technocene

Abstract:

This thesis utilizes augmented reality to illustrate visual and spatial stories of the Technocene regarding water in Toronto. The thesis begins with the etymology of the Technocene, and through this defi nition, the thesis establishes the need for storytelling. The thesis then assesses different visual storytelling methods to conclude that Augmented Reality(AR) is a practical approach when discussing the Technocene. After determining the need for Augmented reality, the various techniques and technologies of performing Augmented Reality are evaluated to create a technological foundation before designing the stories. The stories of water are then researched and developed by the criteria described below to tell a situated and pedagogical story of the Technocene.

Throughout the development of the thesis, a criteria system was developed to help guide the design of the outcome for the thesis. Starting with pedagogical storytelling, the thesis utilizes the criteria to review existing research on situated storytelling and formulate a guideline for situated urban storytelling. These metrics are used to review visual storytelling mediums. Derivatives of these two metrics are also used in literature reviews of AR software to help guide the types of AR technologies and software used in designing the thesis. Finally, to assess the designed stories, all of the developed criteria are used to help explore AR opportunities for this thesis.

Toronto and its stories of water were chosen for their signifi cance in terms of culture, ecosystem, and geography. Technocene is a multilayered framework that incorporates technology driven by social activities or issues to understand which environmental outcomes are induced by such activity. To visualize these stories, the site had to be an environment that has undergone growth in density to locate the layers of the Technocene quickly. Toronto has abundant city infrastructure and buildings made of engineered materials, being an appropriate site to spawn these stories. Four specifi c stories of the lost rivers, porosity, fl ooding, and naturalization were chosen because of water’s crucial role in the ecosystem and the geographical abundance of water in Toronto.

The examining committee is as follows:

Supervisor: Maya Przybylski
Committee member: Linda Zhang
Internal-external reader: Jane Mah Hutton
External: Greg J Smith

The defence examination will take place:
Tuesday, July 30, 2024, 10:00 a.m.
In-person, ARC2026 - Ventin Room.
A copy of the thesis is available for perusal in ARC 2106A.