Revealing Memory: Rehabilitating Pedestrian Experience at The Central Experimental Farm

Abstract

Landscape is one of the richest historical records available to us. A mirror of our beliefs, ideologies, and memories – each layer is gradually built up over time, contributing to the complex spirit of place. By learning to read the landscape we can begin to pull apart these layers of time, revealing memory, and therefore enabling us to better understand ourselves and our history. This thesis proposes the reading of a monumental cultural landscape in the heart of the Nation’s Capital: The Central Experimental Farm. A unique mix of national heritage, scientific legacy, and active research landscape, the Farm provides a multitude of ecological, economic, social, recreational, and educational opportunities to Ottawa. By investigating the complex layers of this cultural landscape, this thesis seeks to share those discoveries through a renewed pedestrian experience throughout the Farm, ensuring the resilience and longevity of this historic landscape in the face of change.