SIMON MCKENZIE ARCHITECTURE
COMMUNITY GARDEN & LIBRARY
Work by Giewel David - Arch 410: Design Studio
This studio explores architecture's role in fostering intergenerational and cross-cultural exchange through a mixed-use community project sited at the unique intersection of Japantown and the Fillmore District—two neighborhoods rich with layered histories, cultures, and shifting identities. The project proposes a multigenerational cultural centre focused on gardening, wellness, and education, with the aim of bridging social gaps between elderly residents and young adult immigrants.
At the heart of the building is a three-story atrium garden that runs the full length of the structure, acting as both a visual anchor and a spatial connector. This interior landscape encourages spontaneous interactions, moments of rest, and shared caretaking of plants and herbs. Adjacent to the atrium, an open-air amphitheatre on the east end offers views over Hamilton Park and directly connects to an herb garden on the second floor, weaving together indoor and outdoor programming.
The roof garden expands this green network, offering an additional venue for community gatherings and multigenerational engagement through shared cultivation, workshops, and social events. Structurally, the building is supported by exposed glulam frames, celebrating natural materiality while allowing for open, adaptable interior spaces. The façade is wrapped in vertical wood fins, whose density varies to provide degrees of shade and privacy, responding to the needs of both communal and quiet areas.
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Inside, a range of wellness spaces—including meditation rooms, fitness areas, and physical therapy zones—are tailored specifically to the needs of elderly users. In parallel, the centre includes dedicated areas for digital literacy training, helping seniors navigate online platforms to stay connected with family, manage healthcare, and access essential services.
For younger users, particularly newly arrived immigrants, the centre offers a series of workshops and orientation programs that introduce the cultural, historical, and social dynamics of their new environment. These programs not only ease the process of integration but also create opportunities for meaningful dialogue between generations. Gardening becomes both metaphor and medium—a shared practice through which knowledge, memory, and belonging are cultivated.
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Through its architectural form, material expression, and layered programming, the project aims to create a welcoming, inclusive environment that nurtures community resilience and social connection across age, culture, and life experience.
