| Ethnic enclaves have been a part of the Canadian urban landscape for over a century, but recent demographic shifts in immigration to Canada have changed these settlements from predominantly urban and working class areas to suburban middle-class neighbourhoods. The contemporary ethnic suburb, or "ethnoburb," although spatially and economically different from traditional "Chinatowns" or "Little Italies," still needs to serve the desires of its residents for public spaces to express collectivity. This feat is not easily attained in the suburban landscape, which is dominated by private land ownership.;Using the case study of Toronto's Chinese ethnoburb---located in the edge-city of Markham, Ontario---this thesis explores sociological and cultural paradigms of the ethnic suburb relative to civic participation and transnational identity. The particular focus of this thesis study is the ethnic shopping centre, which is the architectural centre of these suburban communities. This study will investigate ways in which these centres may surpass their mere retail/economic roles and (more fully) embrace their existing socio-cultural functions within their communities. This project proposes the creation of new architectural typologies that aim to embrace and adequately respond to the needs of the new urban phenomenon of the ethnoburb. |
