Ryan Bell

Tide Turning

My Thesis Book from my fourth and final year in Environmental Design at OCAD University. It explores the process of my work from when I started this project in September 2021 up to the final product it has become. Developing my Thesis has been challenging yet fulfilling now that it has come to an end. I am proud of what I have accomplished with this project and hope you enjoy it too."Tide Turning" is to be interpreted as the reversing of a situation and intervening with change for the better.The linked PDF is sized for the purpose of being printed on A3 paper.

“The Suncor Terminal in Oakville has been developed around for the last two decades with parks, beaches, trails, residential condominiums and more. It currently serves as a fuelling station for large shipping vessels. Suncor Energy lacks environmental awareness and generates excessive levels of greenhouse emissions - there is no place for something like this in the community. It is time this site be rejuvenated with life and contribute to nearby ecosystems.My intention is to repurpose the Suncor Terminal into a community-driven area that engages the public with a beautiful waterfront space. The project will serve as an activity hub for residents of the area that will anchor interchangeable event barges, connected via a pathway system composed of floating vegetation planters. At the end of the pier, the Great Lakes Fish Market provides a space for local fishers to set up small stands and locals can purchase fresh seafood.Each element plays a harmonious role in reflecting key values of the relationship between water and land, and builds upon a culture of coexisting inhabitants - the community and the natural environment. Not only does this allow for unique design possibilities as the Suncor Terminal is different from any other, but it provides insight into the way architecture can create experiences and establish a foundational approach in critical thinking.”