DRAFT RESEARCH QUESTIONS
How can a deeper understanding of the visual identity of place help preserve its unique qualities and inspire community action against gentrification.
How do we express, define and capture the unique visual identity of where we live — and how do these signifiers and characteristics provide hidden socio-political context to give deeper understanding of our collective identity.
How can defining the visual identity of place help preserve its unique qualities and inspire community action against gentrification.
WHAT AM I TRYING TO DO
How can visually communicating the negative effects of gentrification on the visual identity and character of place can inspire community action and empower a movement
HOW GENTRIFICATION AND RAPID DEVELOPMENT IS CHANGIING THE LOOK, FEEL, WARMTH AND SAFETY OF WORKING CLASS NEIGHBOURHOODS.
How can visually communicating the negative effects of gentrification on the visual identity and character of place can inspire community action and empower a movement
How can I as a designer empower communities to be better informed on the effects and threat of gentrification and inspire and empower a social movement to stand up against gentrification.
SITE DATA COLLECTION
HALIFAX SOUTH END, NS
This area holds a mixture of historic building styles, but has always catered to wealthy families. The community-serving spaces consist mainly of parks, as the community is almost completely residential.
RELOCTING PROTECTED BUILDINGS
Big news in the heritage building world, a historic building in downtown Halifax was moved using bars of soap! It was interesting to see a building of this size being moved and the care taken to protect its history.
Dan recommended The Street, and it brought up a lot of nuances to the changing landscape of a community and the effects of gentrification. It shows how the locals “othered” outsiders, but also how their new neighbours don’t integrate into the community either, and the division that is felt by both.
RESEARCH - HERITAGE TRUSTS
I looked for examples of community-serving protected heritage, like corner stores, and other functional buildings. NewFoundland had many examples, but almost none held businesses that are operational today.
REACHING OUT TO THE NS HERITAGE TRUST FOR AN INTERVIEW
Good afternoon,
I’m a post-graduate student living in Halifax, NS studying graphic design, and I’m currently completing a Masters program, exploring themes of the identity of place, and the importance and value of visual identity of where we live.
Using the unique characteristics of both rurual and urban communities of Nova Scotia as the subject of research, how do we express, define and capture the unique visual identity of where we live — and how do these signifiers and characteristics provide hidden socio-political context to give deeper undertsanding of our collective identity.
I was hoping to connect with someone from your organization for a half hour interview (either in-person or online) to learn about the perspective of the Heritage Trust on defining and preserving the unique identity of Nova Scotia, and what we are at risk of losing without organizations such as yours.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY ZERO QUEER NIGHTLIFE SPACES IN HALIFAX.
A sad result of the cost of operating music and arts spaces, is the loss of queer nightlife spaces.
