LAN3016Y F
Instructors: Matthew Brown, Sandra Cook
Meeting Section: L0102
Tuesday, 9:00am - 1:00pm, 2:00pm - 6:00pm; Friday, 2:00pm - 6:00pm

The island of Newfoundland is “on the edge”. Geographically it lies along the edge of the North Atlantic, it forms the edge of Canada, and its settlements cling to the edge of its coastline. Economically, it has forever been on the edge of decline. Yet, its unique geographic and economic conditions present countless untapped opportunities.

This edge condition along the coast of Newfoundland was the very reason for settlement, providing a vital connection between land and sea. Over the past 400 years the people of Newfoundland have proudly established a unique culture and way of life, and a deep and unwavering attachment to place. Thousands of outports (small coastal rural communities) scatter the 9,656km of rugged coastline of the island, with an overall island population of approximately 500,000.  Since confederation in 1949, the pressures and effects of industrialization, globalization, commodification, modernization, and urbanization have rendered outports unproductive, with hundreds having vanished altogether. Economic hardships fueled by the island’s reactive boom and bust economy have launched massive waves of outmigration.

Considering the wealth of natural and social resources, as well as the deep cultural heritage and attachment to place, this studio will investigate design strategies aimed at revitalizing rural coastal communities. The studio is structured in three parts; Nissological mapping of land and marine ecologies and infrastructure; outport field studies in Newfoundland; and landscape-based design strategies.

Studio Travel: Students will travel to Newfoundland for one week in the beginning of October to gain an appreciation for the uniqueness of the rural coastal landscape, community, and culture. While on the island, students will have the opportunity to engage with a selected outport community to conduct and document individual site investigations that will aid in their final design strategies. While the trip is optional, it is highly recommended in order to understand the complexity of the studio topic.

Instructor Bios:

Matthew Austin John Brown

Matthew Brown is the co-founder of Brackish Design Studio based in Atlantic Canada. He holds degrees in Urban Planning from the University of Waterloo, a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Toronto, and a Master of Design Studies in Urbanism, Landscape, and Ecology from the Harvard Graduate School of Design with distinction. Professionally, Matthew spent the first seven years of practice in Boston working as an Associate with the award-winning landscape firm, Stimson Associates, before returning to Atlantic Canada to practice Landscape Architecture. Matthew has managed a variety of high-profile projects around New England and in Atlantic Canada that include large institutional master plans, campus landscapes, urban parks, and private residential landscapes. His unwavering connection to the east coast is explored through his academic research and focus on the capacity of landscape and ecology to act as a catalyst in economic diversification and rural regeneration.

Sandra Cooke

Sandra Cooke is the co-founder of Brackish Design Studio based in Atlantic Canada. Sandra earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies at the University of Toronto, followed by a Master of Landscape Architecture at the University of Toronto. Sandra has practiced as a landscape architect at the award-winning Toronto firm, Janet Rosenberg & Studio, followed by a role as Project Manager at Downsview Park, overseeing the transformation of the 300+ acre brownfield site into a public park in north Toronto. After ten years of practice in Ontario, Sandra relocated to Atlantic Canada in 2016. While she has worked on projects of all scales, Sandra's past work has been focused on mid- to large-scaled public parks and urban spaces, affording opportunities to explore landscape as a performative medium through development of diverse programs ranging from urban agriculture to stormwater management strategies, to ecological restoration and cultural heritage experiences.