Abstract Development #4


As of 11/17/20

Seeking economic progress and global partnership at all cost, increasingly more monotonous nations and governing states commonly make regulatory moves that prey on their own constituents and resources. This pursuit has led to the advent of Free Trade Zones (FTZs) that have manifested in innumerable ways varying from duty free port warehouses to unregulated mega developments rivaling the metropolis’ they were established to support. This course of inquiry stands to question the phenomena of regulatory economic zoning and to understand consequences of regional dissonance that are ecologically and ethically erroding local communities that fall victim to edge friction of these zones.

The architectural objects will occupy several boundary types established by free trade zones surrounding Toronto’s YYZ Airport, Canada’s primary international trade post, and Toronto’s Fiancial district in order to address these differing conditions and their boundaries. These transition points between trade zones and communities have become less clear as duty free permitting has taken over thousands of acres with office parks, warehouses, polyglot towers, and asphalt. As the zones have increased their footprint, Toronto and its metro area are projected to see a massive population growth of 30% by 2030. With housing costs skyrocketing over the past several years an entirely non local, globalized, non descript Southern Ontario that will displace locals seems imminent.

The architecture scale interventions will act as a set of decentralized, physical yet digitally aware border customs houses to shift the zones usage to debase much of it’s physical nature. They will aim to also monitor imports and corporate malfeasance, and to eventually reclaim and repurpose warehouse and office park land. It will look toward incentivizing burgeoning forms of international trade and trade practices that benefit local economies. Redefining the existing district as new more sustainable and scalable space, providing a base for an infrastructure better equipped to handle flux of trade and population in the area without sacrificing place.



Abstract Development #3


As of 11/1/20

Seeking economic progress as much as the illusion of development, nations and governing states commonly make regulatory moves that leave their constituents and resources vulnerable in the defense of capital growth and feeble international relations. This pursuit has led to the advent of Free Trade Zones (FTZs) that have manifested in ways varying from duty free port warehouses to unregulated mega developments rivaling the cities they were intended to support. This course of inquiry stands to reframe phenomena of regulatory economic zoning and to understand consequences of regional dissonance that are ecologically and ethically concerning to local communities that border these zones.

The architectural artifacts will occupy several boundary types established by free trade zones surrounding Toronto’s YYZ Airport, Canada’s primary international trade post, in order to contain and reinforce the zone's boundaries. These boundaries between trade zones and communities have become less clear as the zoning has taken over thousands of acres via office parks, warehouses, and asphalt as the registration of free trade grows recklessly. As the zone has increased its footprint, Toronto and its metro area are projected to see a massive population growth of 30% by 2030. With housing costs skyrocketing over the past several years an entirely non local, globalized, non descript Southern Ontario seems imminent.

The architectural artifacts will act as a set of decentralized, physical and digital border customs houses to bolster the zone with mutually beneficial remote access and digital storage to debase much of the physical nature of the zone, monitor imports and corporate malfeasance, and to eventually reclaim and repurpose warehouse and office park land. It will look toward incentivizing novel forms of international trade and trade practices that benefit local economies as well. Redefining the existing district as new more sustainable and scalable district(s), providing a groundwork for an infrastructure better equipped to handle flux of trade and population in the area without sacrificing livable space.



Abstract Development #2


As of 10/16/20

   In a globalized world that operates on standardized systems of infrastructure, built and invisible, governments are constantly jockeying for global economic position. Seeking economic progress as much as the illusion of development, governing states commonly make regulatory moves that leave their constituents and resources vulnerable in the defense of capital growth. This pursuit has led to the advent of Free Trade Zones  (FTZ) that have manifested in ways varying from port warehouses to mega developments rivaling the cities they were intended to support. This course of inquiry stands to reframe phenomena of regulatory economic zoning and to understand consequences of regional dissonance that are ecologically and ethically concerning. The design object will exist on the edges of Toronto’s informal YYZ FTZs, a region embroilled in capital imperialism, existing as a diffuser between the zone and surrounding areas. This object’s purpose is to regulate the unregulated and ultimately redefine the FTZ as a system reimagined and reconnected to its nation state and locale. The object will bolster the zone with mutually beneficial remote access and digital storage to debase the physical nature of the zone and to reclaim land occupied by endless office parks and warehouses in a city with skyrocketing land costs. This thesis attempts not to redefine foreign trade but to manage its dangerous local effects during a time in which international trade and relationships are becoming more volatile and unpredictable. More sustainable and resilient zones and regions that can manage flux stand to create more stable local and national economies.


Abstract Development #1

As of 10/9/20

    In a globalized world that operates on standardized systems of infrastructure, built and invisible, governments are constantly jockeying for global economic position. Seeking economic progress as much as the illusion of development, governing states commonly make regulatory moves that leave their constituents vulnerable in the defense of foreign and domestic trade. This pursuit has led to the advent of Free Trade Zones  (FTZ) that have manifested in ways varying from port warehouses to mega developments rivaling the cities they were intended to support. This course of inquiry stands to reframe phenomena of regulatory economic zoning and to understand consequences of regional dissonance that are ecologically and ethically concerning. The design object will exist on the boundaries of polarizing FTZs, existing as a buffer between the zone and surrounding areas. This object’s purpose is to regulate the unregulated and ultimately redefine the FTZ as a system reimagined and reconnected to its nation state and locale. The object may bolster the zone with mutually beneficial autonomy, remote access, and digital storage to debase the quasi tourist economy of the FTZ while providing alternative labor outcomes to the areas currently dependent on the zone. This thesis attempts not to redefine foreign trade but to manage its dangerous local effects during a time in which international trade and relationships are becoming more volatile and unpredictable. More sustainable and resilient zones and regions that can manage flux stand to create more stable local and national economies.