Oi Hang Cheng

Urban Acupuncture

Environmental Design

2024

This thesis explores the identification and rejuvenation of leftover spaces along Toronto's Dundas Street with the aim of achieving impactful and lasting urban transformation.

“In all cities around the world, there exists some form of leftover space, a forgotten part of the urban fabric, a remnant of the overlapping layers of the past. The conditions of these lands are unsuitable for most types of traditional architecture but may be fertile ground for architectural invention. Through strategic design interventions, the revitalization and aesthetic qualities of residual spaces can expand the vitality of cities. The thesis aims to better use the leftover space exists in Toronto by proposing possible design strategies that domesticate leftover spaces of diverse scales by injecting creative and playful programs that reflect the needs and identity of the neighborhood.Positioned as Toronto's horizontal backbone with numerous turns and potential wedge sites, Dundas Street is adjacent to many major public landmarks that best reflect each neighborhood making it one of the most prime influential areas in Toronto. Serves as the canvas for fostering a sense of connection between individuals and their environment. By examining the 14 neighborhoods that were defined based on Statistics Canada census tracts the boundaries of these communities rarely change over time compared to wards and dissemination blocks, which best reflect the people living in the neighborhood which are the target users for my thesis.”