Regenerating the Experimental Farm: How Can Architecture Make a Historic Landscape Relevant to a Contemporary Public?

The original intention for Ottawa’s Experimental Farm was to demonstrate a broad spectrum of agriculture-related activities. Once located on the outskirts of Ottawa, the Farm still researches rural farming methods despite now being surrounded by suburbs. The Farm’s deterioration of identity caused a lack of public programming has been recognised by the city and local residents.A reinvigorated Farm will uphold its role as an agricultural research centre in a context relative to its urban environment. The Farm will become a place of active education, exploring sustainable relationships with the land by combining scientific research, food cultivation and water management.Through architecture and landscape architecture this thesis aims to explore the integration of public leisure and educational amenities while making the research of the Farm apparent. The remade Experimental Farm will perform a new role of regenerating Canada’s high standards of scientific reputation and connecting people with the research process.