Faculty of Design
Environmental Design
Ivan Pulevski
Interlink
Environmental Design
2022
I am investigating how to create architecture that has a symbiotic relationship between its inhabitant habitat and surrounding ecosystem. In an effort to create a project that benefits its surrounding environs and local residents, in order to help increase the quality of life within Regent park in regards to access to food employment opportunities and education. Regent park emerged from the south of cabbagetown during the 1930’s, it was one of Toronto's worst slums and was targeted by planners for a renewal, or revitalization, which was named Regent park. Built in 1949 it holds the distinction of being Canada's first public housing project. Regent Park’s residents come from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds including many new Canadians from Africa, Asia, and Latin America and Europe. There are more than sixty different first languages spoken here making Regent Park one of Toronto’s most culturally diverse neighborhoods. The new Regent Park revitalization started in 2005 and it consists of a mix of market condos, affordable housing units and vibrant new retail spaces.The problem that my project seeks to address is that, "revitalized" neighborhoods like Regent park are victim to poor site research and planning. The new revitalization plan for Regent Park does add many new housing and commercial spaces but, they are spaces that are intended to attract younger, wealthier residents while simultaneously displacing the previous generations of people that live on that site. Instead of adding on or revitalizing the existing ecosystem services that currently or previously reside on site, the solution found within the master plan for this area is just to build commercial residential spaces. Thus, taking away from the rich culture and tight knit community that exists in historic Toronto neighborhoods like Regent Park. The most prevalent example of this loss of community interaction due to revitalization has to do with the removal of surrounding gardens and green spaces. These green spaces not only provided food for a large percentage of regent park but they also serve as areas that inhibit community interaction, event spaces, employment and educational facilities for the residents of the area. My project seeks to breathe life back into these lost spaces and give the people of Regent park a place where the old and new community of Regent park can come together and re-establish their connection with the community. Education is addressed through spaces like the library, auditorium, workshop, classrooms and the ecology exhibit. While spaces like the cafe, cafeteria, kitchen and hydroponic farm are intended to give job opportunities and re-establish the communities former connection between themselves and food. The spaces in between like the exhibition space, event space and interior and seasonal exterior farmers market are meant to be additions and connect the educational and work spaces while giving the new and old community a place to interact free from the never ending process of revitalization that exists beyond the walls.
“This is an investigation into how we can create architecture that has a symbiotic relationship between its inhabitant habitat and surrounding ecosystem. In an effort to create a project that benefits and adds on to its surrounding environs as well assisting its local residents.”
Work by
Ivan Pulevski
““Architecture forms a vital link between people and their surroundings. It acts as a gentle buffer between the fragility of human existence and the vast world outside. How different people choose to...” [More]
Celebrate the work of OCAD U’s class of 2021/2022!