This Thesis Project began as an exploration of the architectural, philosophical and psychological nature of dwelling. From this exploration I have made an argument about the nature of dwelling based on several premises. First, that dwelling is determined by the boundaries between public and private space. Second, these boundaries of dwelling may only be adjusted or determined by a political operation- the mediation between private desire and public consensus. Third, the successful mediation of these boundaries depends on two basic conditions: equality and communication, principally speech. To test this thesis I looked for a dwelling typology where everyone was equal and where there was a minimum condition of private space. These conditions create the largest potential for dwelling in the terms of my argument. I chose the Travellers' Hotel, a changing typology that brings together people from around the world who share all the space of the building including the kitchen, and the two most private spaces of a dwelling; the bedroom and the bathroom. I chose a site in downtown Vancouver, the corner of Davie and Granville Streets, that is the intersection of major transportation and pedestrian axes of the city and major demographic, economic, and physical changes in the fabric of the city.

This thesis addresses the question of how a dialogue may be developed between the socio-political notion of pluralism and a pluralistic public sphere, and the design of public space and public architecture. More particularly, it considers how architecture may both accommodate multiple publics while simultaneously framing connection or association between them. Following an exploration of this question at an abstract, theoretical level, the thesis moves to a more specific architectural investigation. This investigation takes the form of a design project situated within the Robson Square complex in downtown Vancouver. The complex, constructed in the mid-1970's, was designed by Canada's pre-eminent architect Arthur Erickson and is the major civic space in the city. The thesis design project undertakes a theoretical re-evaluation and physical renovation of this Utopian mega-structure, with the intention of shifting the existing homogeneity and institutionality of the complex to align it with the thesis argument. Through the vehicle of a design project,, the abstract theoretical argument is translated and focused through the particularities of an architecture embedded in its site. This methodology requires the project to address issues connected to the existing masterwork, including: the question of how to conceptualize monumentally in a grid city; the relationship between the 'sacred' space of the civic circumstance and the 'profane' space of the street and commercial program; the form of the institution within the city; and the issue of working within, and manipulating, a pre-existing architectural language. Further, the scale of the site is reflected in the scope of the design project. The project moves from the development of urban design strategies to the detailed consideration of the material and construction of the different interventions. The architecture remains, however, conceptual and is a demonstration of how the developed strategies may generate form and guide program. The project does not attempt to fully develop a building in detail. The thesis concludes with an afterword on the success of the project as a demonstration of the thesis argument. At the same time, the limits of architecture to act as a socio-political device are acknowledged. Further, speculations are made as to the way in which the position and the strategies developed within the thesis might inform wider discussions on architecture and the urbanism of grid cities such as Vancouver. The key concept forming the basis of these speculations is the idea of a 'difficult' co-existence of parts and a whole, reflecting the pluralistic ideal of association within fragmentation.

The once close physical, functional, economic and cultural solidarity between ports and cities has diminished as a result of changes within both ports and their surrounding urban areas. Spatially, ports and cities have become separated as port structures have grown and evolved to meet the demands of trade and shipping technology over the past few decades. This separation is exacerbated by changing social priorities in the use of urban waterfront space and heightened interest in quality of life issues. As the pressures affecting the urban waterfront continue to grow, the port-city relationship has become strained. This paper is concerned with how the relationship between ports and cities can be improved to support the complementary development of the port with its urban region and, at the same time, maintain the quality of life city residents have come to expect. More specifically, this study seeks out the appropriate planning principles, strategies and approaches that can effectively address the problems and land use conflicts at the port-city interface. The study begins by exploring the literature of structural and societal changes that are affecting port city waterfronts and the conflicts that result between ports and cities in their planning for the waterfront. In a number of cases, these challenges are being met by the separate actions of ports and cities; however, given port-city linkages in many issues it is revealed that there is much to be gained through the effective coordination of efforts based on shared planning principles. A review of the Vancouver cityport confirms the port-city challenges suggested by the literature and interviews with municipal and port representatives lend support to the concept of port-city planning principles. The major conclusions of this study are that ports and cities can benefit from increased collaboration on the basis of agreed planning principles and a shared approach to waterfront planning that recognizes each party's needs. The challenge to be borne by city and port planners is one that seeks reconciliation, balance and the re-building of a synergistic relationship.

My thesis began with an investigation into the history of the stadium and a questioning of how the stadium has been influenced and shaped by different power structures throughout time. From this foundation of research I developed a design for The Vancouver Velodrome. The site chosen for The Vancouver Velodrome is located on the North slope of Burnaby Mountain in Vancouver and is currently being used as a concrete factory. The site is bordered on the south by the Barnet Highway and to the north by a cliff which leads down to railway lines that run along the shore of the Burrard Inlet. The geographical location of the site from the natural slope separates it from the mountain and marks it as an isolated site. It was my desire then to re-establish a sense of unity within the landscape. The velodrome was not to be an isolated object, to be held out as separated from the landscape. Rather, it was to act as a connector which joins together the mountain, the site, and the ocean. Unlike the stadium precedents which were often founded upon ideological concerns, the velodrome was founded by the sense of power dictated by its environs, rather than that imposed on it by other structures. The velodrome design was therefore influenced by the landscape, the more significant elements included a 100 ft. highway retaining wall, a bowllike depression, and a large retaining wall on the north side of the site which supported the cliff face. The highway retaining wall was used to create an entry procession. The depression contained nicely the large space required and the banked contours then helped to brace the bleachers and embraced the building in general. The northern wall dictated the long axis for the velodrome and the bridge which connected it to the mountain slope, which also served to support the roof structure. The overall design manifests the notion of a building not 'within' the landscape but rather one which 'is' part of the landscape; on which people traverse and in which people inhabit.

Good neighbourhood shopping streets have long been significant in their ability to provide goods and services within walking distance of neighbourhood residents, to create a rich public realm, and to foster a sense of community. Far removed from their past as streetcar strips, the neighbourhood shopping street is once again being looked at as an important element of the urban environment. The purpose of this thesis is to determine the characteristics of good neighbourhood shopping streets and to examine these characteristics in the context of two Vancouver case studies—Commercial Drive and West 41st Avenue. Based on a review of planning, urban design, and landscape architecture literature, the fundamental principles of good neighbourhood shopping streets are revealed. Specifically, a good neighbourhood shopping street is accessible, comfortable, sociable, a place, adaptable, beautiful, and diverse. Flowing from these principles, and the means to them, are the characteristics of good neighbourhood shopping streets—buildings that relate to the street, good walking facilities, pedestrian amenities, traffic management, street activity, neighbourhood goods and services, maintenance, supportive neighbourhood context, and supportive government. The research suggests that real-life neighbourhood shopping streets rarely have all the characteristics that the literature holds as ideal. Rather, some characteristics— buildings that relate to the street, street activity, neighbourhood goods and services, a supportive neighbourhood context, and supportive government—appear as fundamental to good neighbourhood shopping streets but are exhibited to varying degrees. More specifically, the case studies help illustrate what particular elements are either essential or helpful, creating a checklist that other streets can benefit from.

Environmental philosophy has expanded and diversified greatly since its beginning. Yet applied philosophies, environmental philosophy and environmental ethics have not engaged descriptive ethics in the way that biomedical ethics has. I will suggest that the failure to has meant that environmental philosophy has had limited impact on environmental practices such as restoration ecology. In this thesis I will attempt to reposition philosophy's ethical spotlight upon what I feel to be the most ethically relevant features of the practice of restoration ecology, and to facilitate this, I develop a case-study. A history of the Musqueam Watershed restoration project and its participants' objectives and their operating policies will be given, followed by an ethical analysis of the project. I will argue on several counts that getting restoration right involves more than paying careful attention to the finished product, as philosophers Elliot and Katz have suggested. Getting restoration right involves placing practice within a broad social and political context where process becomes as crucial as outcome. This will require an examination of the way in which interested stakeholders nature, as well as an examination of the democratic structure and mandate of the Musqueam Watershed Committee. I will argue that restoration projects ought to be conducted in a manner that exploits the inherent participatory potential of restoration ecology. Finally, I will argue the inclusion of ecosystems within the human socio-political context, and thus suggest replacement of the Wilderness Paradigm, or the Hyperreal Paradigm with a Garden Paradigm for human relations with nature, in the hope that in this way we will restore ourselves to nature.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--Carleton University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 58-61). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of North Texas, Dec., 2007. / Title from title page display. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Simon Fraser University, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-124).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., 2000. / Abstract. Portions of appendices in Korean. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [168-175]).