Student award of excellence
immigrantS do not Simply Settle
Student
Bindya Lad, University of toronto MississaUga, ontario
sissauga, Brampton, Markham, Richmond Hill, and Vaughan rather than the city of Toronto. First conceived during the postwar period, these suburban landscapes continue: they are designed for a particular “white” nuclear middle-class family; they separate and segregate land uses; they are sparsely densified; and, they are based on metrics associated with the automobile. The result is the production of homogeneous, inefficient built fabrics that contribute to creating barriers to settlement for immigrants. However, immigrants do not simply settle. In the manner in which the North American land-
location
Today, one in every five persons of the total Canadian population identifies themselves as being an immigrant. Of particular importance are the landscapes where these immigrants choose to settle, as they form part of their adaptation to life in Canada. The province of Ontario receives over half of Canada’s immigrants, with a particular concentration in the Toronto Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), within which there is a growing trend for immigrants choosing to settle in surrounding suburban municipalities such as Mis-
parking spaces � new
publi
c
lanew
ay init iated by m unicip
scape has been shaped by certain ideals, upon immigrating these individuals bring with them different social and cultural attitudes and sensibilities about the practice of everyday life and the use of space. To accommodate their own needs, immigrants assume the role of designer, choosing to modify these suburban landscapes using tactical approaches and their own programs of use. Though innovative and resourceful in their execution, such informal approaches are frustrated and criminalized by strategic frameworks such as bylaws, regulations, and policies even a specULative drawing iLLUstrating possiBLe ways in which a sUBUrBan singLefaMiLy dweLLing can accoMModate extended faMiLies; coM Bining varioUs UrBan and cULtUraL eLe Ments to deveLop a More viBrant sUBUrB.
ality
1
redefining new fraMe works for iMMigrant coMMUnities Liv ing in the sUBUrBs incLUdes acknow Ledging reLigioUs festivaLs Like hoLi and other oUtdoor festivaLs.
aBoVe, left to right
Below, left to right
parking space required per unit
dwelling units �
each unit required to provide exclusive open space adjacent to unit, equivalent to 25% of its floor area
home business home business �
permitted in units facing street with direct access from grade
introduction of onstreet parking through permit system with maximum of 2 onstreet parking spaces per property Scenario 5—adapting the Single-family home
front yard setback reduction
the “network”: identifying deSign potentialS 1 cULtUraL eLeMents 7 decorations 2 Market 8 Banners 3 rest areas 9 waLkway 4 BUffer 10 Bike Lane 5 canopy 11 roadway 6 Lights 12 pLantings
12/09 canadian architect
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