A Non-Frivolous Pleasure Park: Revisiting Truro's Tidal Bore Motel Site

Along an inlet of the Bay of Fundy, centrally located in Nova Scotia, a remarkable tidal phenomenon known as the tidal bore has long captivated locals and tourists. The tidal bore is sudden, its first wave advancing like a wall of water over the empty inlet until it gradually fills with seawater. Beyond its powerful beauty, this natural occurrence holds a very dominant sense of control over humans and the landscape - dictating the conditions of use, enjoyment and an ever-changing site.This thesis asks how the opposing spatio-temporal pulls of local culture and tourism can be reconciled on this liminal landscape.Revisiting the site’s long history of tourism, the design explores the crossing together of a littoral park, an RV campground and a motel. While acquiescing to humans’ desire to get close to the tidal bore experientially, the architecture seeks to reveal, not obscure, the site.