Ryerson University Digital Commons @ Ryerson Theses and dissertations 1-1-2012 Healing Neighbourhoods through Urban Acupuncture Jonathan P. Pascaris Ryerson University Follow this and additional works at:http://digitalcommons.ryerson.ca/dissertations Part of theHuman Geography Commons,Physical and Environmental Geography Commons, Public Health Commons, and theUrban, Community and Regional Planning Commons Recommended Citation Pascaris, Jonathan P., "Healing Neighbourhoods through Urban Acupuncture" (2012).Theses and dissertations.Paper 804. This Thesis Project is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ Ryerson. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Ryerson. For more information, please [email protected]. Healing Neighbourhoods through URBAN ACUPUNCTURE by Jonathan P. Pascaris BArchSc Ryerson University 2007 A design Thesis|Project presented to Ryerson University in the parti al fullfi llment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 2012 © Jonathan P. Pascaris 2012 ii I hereby declare that I am the sole author of this thesis|project. I authorize Ryerson University to lend this thesis|project to other insti tuti ons or individuals for the pur- pose of scholarly research. Signature I further authorize Ryerson University to reproduce this thesis|project by photocopying or by other means, in total or in part, at the request of other insti tuti ons or individuals for the purpose of scholarly research. Signature iii iv Healing Neighbourhoods through Urban Acupuncture Master’s Thesis, 2012 Jonathan Pascaris Master of Architecture Ryerson University Well-being is a holisti c concept of human health, and it is inextricably linked to environment. Built land- scapes that do not service real human needs can be extremely detrimental to the growth of community. In the context of Toronto, this is no more apparent than in suburban neighbourhoods where changing demographics have left a populati on with diverse and urgent needs, but in which homogenous and auto-centric built environments inhibit the informal socializati on that contribute to both individual and urban vitality. This thesis purports that architecture has a parti cularly important role in the future of such neighbourhoods because of its capacity to intensify program and create opportuniti es for people to comingle. Drawing upon the metaphor of therapeuti c acupuncture, this thesis will explore the ways in which punctual interventi ons can acti vate places. Objecti ves of connecti vity, hybridity and porosity will be explored as the means by which this acti vati on can occur. Ulti mately, this thesis aims to assert the importance of architecture in facilitati ng more holisti c understandings of urban health. v vi Acknowledgements Thank you to George Kapelos, my girlfriend Jaclyn, and my family for helping me through the personal struggles that have accompanied the completi on of my thesis. I am forever indebted to you all. vii viii Dedicati on To my mother. I wish I could have done bett er, but I’m trying not to agonize. ix