Elif Asal

Silence In Time

Environmental Design

2024

A moment of Silence, Wander, and IsolationIn response to the escalating urbanization and environmental challenges in downtown Toronto, my thesis proposes the reimagining and redesign of Humber Bay Park into an urban sanctuary. This project aims to provide a space for individuals to seek solace, reconnect with nature, and find respite from the city's chaos. Thus, in time, as new projects are set to be built in the upcoming years by the city, where do the people go for a moment of silence and isolation?

“Split by the mouth of Mimico creek, two peninsula sisters sit on Lake Ontario almost mirroring each other. My thesis located in Humber Bay Park aims to reimagine and redesign the site into an urban sanctuary, to isolate oneself from the chaos of the city for some quiet alone time and to reconnect with nature and its habitat. I aim to achieve this by removing any existing buildings and excess parking lots. To achieve a wonderous experience, I aim to design 3 bridges, one on each peninsula, east and west and a mid-bridge connecting the two sisters. All three bridges are connected by a 3-meter wide boardwalk circulating throughout the park, completely repurposed by the docks from boat parking.To enforce the term isolation, I want to strategize separating the peninsulas from land by cutting off at the mouth and allow the creek to flow all three ways. This way it will minimize the flooding on certain points on the land and the only way to wander in this space, once must experience the bridges. ”