Vast and thinly occupied, massive but not dense, the horizontal Canadian metropolis has been shaped by waves of economic, social and political forces. The expansive growth of the modern city, built on complex systems of industrialization, rapidly accelerating transport and communication networks and a culture of consumption, has left indelible marks on the urban landscape. By the end of the 20th century the thorough reduction in industrial capacity of North American cities made apparent the actual cost of this landscape in the form of derelict waste landscapes and underused monofunctional infrastructure in and around the traditional city centre. Partially in reaction to this dispersed field or carpet of development, the relatively young form of practice refered to as landscape urbanism has emerged as a lens through which we can better conceptualize and design for the complex social, economic and environmental contexts of the post-industrial city. In an effort to explore the principles of this emerging mode of practice and how they could provide alternate and more balanced methods of urban development, this Master's Degree Project (MDP) investigates the convergence of landscape urbanism, architecture and infrastructural systems and their ability to shape the 21st century Canadian city. Ultimately a proposal for the redevelopment of a large swatch of derelict industrial land and underused space along Victoria's waterfront is presented as a way to test the theoretical background through a specific design praxis.

Bibliography: p. 140-142

Thesis is in colour.