Life at the edge: Envisioning park architecture as a mediator between visitor impacts and ecological stewardship

Taking an ecological design approach to park architecture, the thesis studies architectural responses to issues of human interaction with fragile wilderness ecosystems. The goal of this thesis is to explore ways of mediating between the park's conflicting mandates for ecological conservation and continued public access. With particular emphasis on the level of fragility or robustness of each building site, thesis design proposes a series of architectural interventions for Botanical Beach, in Juan de Fuca Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada, aimed at: (1) limiting the physical impact of visitors on the park's fragile ecosystems, (2) enhancing the many recreational opportunities that exist within the park, and (3) facilitating visitor education programs. Also, the thesis explores how the tectonics of the architecture can reinforce an awareness of the fragile nature of the park's ecosystems and emphasize both the negative and positive consequences of a continuing human presence.