Javeria Javed

The Streamway

A complied copy of my general work.

“Thesis Statement: Turning an under-utilized urban space into public parks using biophilia can be sustainable and improve people’s well-being. Revitalizing an under-utilized urban space into a linear park could take advantage of the space’s hidden potential to provide the community with a healthy space to enjoy especially since the events of the pandemic.Project Description:The project is located roughly in Scarborough’s Dorset Park neighbourhood and is about 1.7 km long and 225 m wide. It used to host hydro lines but currently consists of flat, empty green patches with no purpose or use with the space essentially being wasted. It has the West Highland Creek, partly channelized, running along side it from which I will be harvesting water during flood times. It also has a run-off area which acts as a seasonal wetland area. My concept is flow and metaphor is stream due to the site’s shape, the creek, and my desire to promote health and well-being of humans and the environment alike using biophilia and sustainability. This project will repair some of damage caused by the channelization by introducing vegetation that promotes biodiversity. There are also water harvesting ponds for watering near-by vegetation and permeable pathways for soil health.Since the events of the pandemic, the need to utilize our outdoor spaces for the sake of promoting our communities' well-being has become apparent. The proposed space will introduce nature’s ability to promote people’s mental well-being by reducing stress through a relaxing environment, promoting cognitive function by stimulating minds, and improving moods through the sensory experiences in nature. It also allows and encourages the community to connect with one another and promotes physical well-being through physical activities in and around nature. This will help alleviate some of the negative effects that the pandemic has had on people’s mental, physical, and communal health and well-being.Student Description:As someone interested in both urban design and landscapes, I want to design spaces that further introduce green spaces rather than destroy it through unnecessary pollution that hides behind claims of urbanization and development. Our projects should always have a net positive effect on our environments, and I believe that we can do that while still developing our cities and community resources.For the full booklet, please look under "view all works."”