Ephemeral Transitions 

There are many abandoned vacant sites with an enigmatic presence in city of Toronto. Upon further investigation, it becomes clear that these vacant sites have fallen victim to multiple instances of neglect. This thesis will study the potential of applying landscape architecture to Toronto’s fast-pace evolution, and the implementation of temporary and ephemeral principles to guide the transformation of these vacant sites for future development. While other post-industrial cities are in decline and experiencing a shrinking demand for space, Toronto faces only temporary vacancies because of the rapidly growing population and the resulting need for land. In spite of the conventional perception of landscape architecture as a sustainable phenomenon, landscape architecture, in this case, will introduce itself as an interim occurrence during the period from abandonment to the implementation of a re-designation project. The former Kodak property in Toronto’s west-end will be examined as a showcase of temporary vacancy.