Culture of Outports: Burlington Free Lab

Summary

As part of ERA’s ‘Culture of Outports‘ project, a team of ERA staff conducted a free lab for the Dalhousie University School of Architecture, in which six students developed and built a project aimed at revitalizing Burlington, Newfoundlands waterfront, over a period of three weeks.

A filled in pond is currently serving as the only public site on Burlington’s waterfront, allowing for camping and gathering. The free lab proposed a number of interventions which explore the history and the future of the town, including a ghost bridge, and a formalization of the improvised campground.

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

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. In many cases, creative thinkers are rebuilding these communities in the next wave of cultural activity.

To see the progress of the project, click here.