Grafting Maple with Cedar
Abstract:
Canada’s metaphor for integrating immigrants is the mosaic —vividly colored pieces of ethnicity, culture, racial identity, and language planted side by side, and in contrast to the melting pot of the American states, Canada is a nation of immigrants from all parts of the world, including the Arab world. The Arab community’s presence in Canada has not been investigated, represented, or responded to as thoroughly as other notable immigrant communities. This thesis begins with a literature review that underscores the fact that there is no one cohesive “Arab” identity, contrary to popular belief. Hence, moving forward with a focus on El Mashreq countries, this thesis investigates the heritage and social dynamics at the heart of El Mashreq culture, supported by a series of stories collected by the author to provide a humanist perspective towards the usually misconceived Arab community in Canada. Employing grafting—the binding of two separate plant pieces into one—as the research’s primary discourse and method of approach, the following thesis speculates on graft architecture as an advocacy tool for racialized minorities, specifically El Mashreq Arabs in Canada.
Following a questionnaire carried out with the community in Canada with the goal of documenting authentic insight into their needs, a design proposal for an Ahwé—Arabic for coffeeshop—in Old Montreal is presented as a design solution that responds to the community’s longing for social interaction. The design is based on an exploration of contact zones—where disparate cultures meet—through a conscientious analysis of the architecture of Cairo, Beirut, and Montreal, envisioning a unique graft of the three. This thesis ultimately argues that grafting can be utilized as an ever-evolving model for the weaving together of distinct cultures sharing space, when intricately implemented into all stages of architectural design; from program, to material use, and modern detailing.
The examining committee is as follows:
Supervisor:
Tracey
Eve
Winton
Committee
member:
Marie-Paule
Mcdonald
Internal-external
reader:
Robert
Jan
Van
Pelt
External:
Farid
Noufailly
The
defence
examination
will
take
place:
Tuesday,
December
20,
2022,
9:00
a.m.
This
will
be
taking
place
online
via
Teams.
Please
contact the
grad
office or
the
student
for
the
Teams
link.
The
committee
has
been
approved
as
authorized
by
the
Graduate
Studies
Committee.
A
copy
of
the
thesis
is
available
for
perusal
in
ARC
2106A.