An Architecture of Shifting Mores: Transforming the Modern Downtown

Since its inception, modernism has represented an embrace of changing socioeconomic conditions and has been characterized as a medium for enacting social change. Modernism is both shaped by and contributes to the moulding of changing social mores. The built fabric acts as an indicator of cultural values but is also acted upon by its inhabitants to reflect shifting social norms. An architecture reflective of shifting mores embraces this duality and uses it to instill a sense of optimism for the future. This thesis contends that modernism embodies a cycle of ever-evolving values and cultural shifts. As collective opinions change and socioeconomic conditions are transformed, it is essential that we demand new uses and meanings from our built environment. An architecture of shifting mores diverges from traditional modernist thinking. We can no longer wipe the slate clean to serve our shifting needs. This thesis is sited in London, Ontario’s Downtown Heritage Conservation District where ideas of pragmatism, hybridity, innovation, and shifting mores were tested on a city block, resulting in the proposed design framework. This thesis responds to the conditions of modernization that have resulted in the city as we know it. The framework being proposed puts cultural heritage at the forefront of city building while finding creative, new uses for underutilized infrastructure.