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Culture of Outports: Burlington Freelab

by ERA Architects

ERA’s Culture of Outports project, through the Centre for Urban Growth + Renewal, and sponsored by TD Canada Trust, is now taking shape in Newfoundland.

The team includes Principals-in-charge Michael McClelland and Philip Evans, Project Architect Will MacIvor, and Assistant Laila MacDougall-Milne, as well as six students from Dalhousie University’s School of Architecture in their design build project in the outport of Burlington, on the Baie Verte peninsula.

The team, on site.

The project proposes that an understanding of the unique history and character of these communities is essential in order to successfully plan and manage their future evolution, post fisheries. There are plenty of examples throughout the province to suggest that communities are in search of inventive ways to invent new industries and ways of life in response to these major shifts by exploring and diversifying in alternative economies and opportunities. In many cases, creative thinkers are rebuilding these communities in the next wave of cultural activity.

A filled in pond is currently serving as the only public site on Burlington’s waterfront, allowing for camping and gathering. The Free Lab hopes to formalize this site in some way, creating a permanent asset for the city.

The team, on a dock.

The team is responsible for the design and construction of the intervention, following the cultural study of outports and surroundings which took place during their first few days in Newfoundland. This is being complemented with lectures from locals and workshops on topics varying from traditional building techniques to master shipbuilders and shipbuilding.

You can see this exciting project take shape through the team’s blog! Click here to see what they’re up to.

This project has been generously sponsored by TD Canada Trust.

Related Projects

Culture of Outports: Majumder Manor Sean Majumder
Burlington, Newfoundland
Culture of Outports Newfoundland and Labrador
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Kingston Culture Plan City of Kingston
Kingston, Ontario