On Generosity:
The capacity for architecture to ascend to a level of generosity is often predicated upon the philanthropy of the individual or entity funding the project. Unfortunately, this tends to be limited due to capitalist models of development that prioritize return on investments over sustaining a social conscience. In order to create designs that give back to their inhabitants, their communities and the natural world, a paradigm shift is needed in the world of development that sees a shift away from the continued implementation of commercial models towards the adoption of more holistic ones. This thesis seeks to explore the ways in which this shift may occur through environmentally regenerative designs that celebrate the possibilities of carbon-negative buildings with positive energy footprints. The intention is to attack behavioural barriers on the client end of the design process that prevent architecture from engaging with the climate crisis.
Abstract:
Mother Trees are entities found in forests across the world that exist as ecological nutrient hubs due to their ability to sustain themselves while providing for their neighbours via subterranean mycorrhizal networks. This thesis seeks to argue for a transformation of Building into Mother Tree by achieving a net-zero emission footprint and then pushing beyond it through the incorporation of clean energy infrastructure to establish an energy surplus. This surplus will be structured to carefully finance the inclusion of natural elements throughout the design in a manner that exceeds existing manifestations of green roof infrastructure within the city of Toronto. Green elements will be included with the intention of arriving at a new typology that sees an overwhelming inclusion of nature and establishes a new architectural ethos that infuses natural growth into the realm of architectural design. The dialogue between energy production and natural elements pertains to concerns over the inadequate materialization of green infrastructure within buildings today. Although the inclusion of nature is an inspiring target that many designers and the public at large hope to see included within new designs, when budgets are factored into the equation, the incentive from developers to take the extra measures needed to meet sustainability and environmental targets is rarely met with the same enthusiasm. This thesis intends to bridge this gap by using the revenue generated from energy output as a means of providing an added incentive for developers to engage with the climate crisis by allocating additional funding for the inclusion of green infrastructure within their budgets for future developments. This thesis aims to produce a possible framework for energy-positive buildings with carbon negative footprints that exists as an attractive alternative to developers.
