Canada Constructed courses

Architecture of Toronto (FAH 199H1-F)

The architecture of Toronto is characterized by artful and influential monuments as well as stylistically incoherent neighbourhoods, vibrant civic spaces alongside dysfunctional infrastructure. This course investigates how Canada’s national metropolis came to embody such extremes of architectural richness and urban contradictions. The seminar focuses on how to “read” the buildings of Toronto and think critically about the forces that have shaped city planning, monuments, public space, and concepts of heritage. Readings and discussions will be combined with field trips, research on site or in the archives, and direct engagement with local communities and preservation initiatives.

Offered Fall 2022: Wednesdays 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Restricted to first-year students.

with Dr Jessica Mace

Studies in Canadian Architecture and Landscapes (FAH473H1S)

An in-depth study of themes in the history of architecture and landscape in Canada, this course will explore how the built environment in Canada has been written, studied, and preserved, with particular attention paid to which narratives have been privileged and which have been suppressed. Through a series of themes and case studies, we will unveil histories and narratives in the architecture of Canada that have been hiding in plain sight by using various critical lenses to reveal issues of race, religion, public space, heritage, gender, class, and more. Through an immersive and collaborative semester-long research project, students will carry out original research while gaining practical experience in writing and publication for a partner organization.

Offered Winter 2023: Fridays, 11:00am – 1:00 pm

Prerequisite: FAH273H1 and an additional 1.0 FAH credit at the 300-level

with Dr. Jessica Mace