Monday, February 8, 2016 12:00 pm
-
12:00 pm
EST (GMT -05:00)
Of
the
thesis
entitled: Beyond Genius
Loci:
An
Analysis
of
Architectural
Design
Strategies
of
Place
Abstract:
This thesis
explores
the
contributive
role
of
the genius
locus,
or
“spirit
of place”,
in
the
identity
of
cities
and
the
production
of
meaningful
places.
The research
addresses
the
analysis
of genius
loci as
historical phenomenon as
well
as
their
modern
role
within
suburban
landscapes.
This
thesis
argues that
an
understanding
and
response
to genius
loci is
vital
not
only
in distinguishing
it
from
concepts
such
as
a
sense
of place,
place-making,
and identity,
but
as
a
means
to
further
the
maturation
of
suburban
design
and animate
the
underlying
urban
forces
that
combat
generic
design.
Focusing
on
the suburban
city
of
Mississauga, urban
and
architectural
failures
bring
the
agency of
architecture
into
question
in
order
to
contest
architecturally
indifferent development.
The
goal
is
to
offer
a
design
methodology
that
animates
the generative forces
of
the genius
locus in
order
to
achieve
a
distinct, complex,
and
grounded
urban
character.
The
design
intervention
embodies Mississauga’s genius
locus –
an
urban
simulacrum
born
from
commerce, speculation,
and
the
resistant
debris
of
city
growth
–
into
a
matrix
of architectural
and
landscape
inserts
drawn
from
portions
of
idealized
master plans.
It
takes
into
account
the
role
of
conscious
and
unconscious cultural value,
collective
identity,
and
environmental
influences
in
order
to
bridge
the gap
between
the
ideal
city
and
the
built
city.
The examining committee is as follows:
The examining committee is as follows:
Co-Supervisors:
Val Rynnimeri, University of Waterloo
Mona El Khafif, University of Waterloo
Committee Member:
Andrew
Levitt,
University of
Waterloo
External Reader:
Pat Hanson, gh3
The
committee
has
been
approved
as
authorized
by
the
Graduate
Studies
Committee.
The
Defence
Examination
will
take
place:
Monday
February
8,
2016
12:00PM
ARC
Loft
A
copy
of
the
thesis
is
available
for
perusal
in
ARC
2106A.