---

MSoA — ARCH673 — W23

The Crafts Project

A Grassroot Approach to Retaking the NCC’s Historic Site
by Alexandre Neron

During a community engagement session at Youth in Motion, the themes of generational history transmission and artistic expression came up. Both themes resonate with expressing your own perspective. 

History is a complex subject to tackle since there is not only one history, but as many histories as there are perspectives. Oral history tradition embodies the principle of multiple voices passing down wisdom, knowledge and experience from generation to generation. 

 

The NCC’s former site also has complex and overlapping histories which live within the people of Little Burgundy. 

Until 34 years ago, people knew the NCC from the inside. It was a space that many people considered as a second home.

Since the building was closed, the NCC remained as a towering presence during basketball games at Oscar Peterson Park, or Campbell Park as it was called then. For many youths at the time, the building continued to be a symbol of the neighbourhood’s history. 

For almost 10 years, the building has been demolished, leaving the site as an open wound of where the NCC once stood. Its rough topography and fenced off periphery refrain access. Yet, even with the NCC gone, the vibrant spirit of the neighbourhood remains. 

With the site’s histories fading away with time, there is an urgency to revive the site quickly. As a new building could still take another 10-15 years to be built, there is an opportunity to retake the site now until a new project can take its place.

The Crafts Project proposes to retake the site by transforming the fences and topography. These symbols of oppression and restriction have the potential to become symbols of expression.

The first step is to take over the fences through weaving.

The act of crafting allows the mind to wander and reflect. During that time, weaving support conversation and facilitates transmissions of oral histories. The process is meant as activism events to progress towards a future community project and also a moment to reflect on the site’s past histories.  

The fences transform into the roofs of fixed program spaces that support crafts making. The existing topography guides fixed settlements. These spaces allow for creative discovery and passing of knowledge.

The intermediate spaces are flexible grounds for exploration and play. With a system of removable columns with plug-in connections, creativity is the only limit to the potential of temporary installations the site can host. 

     1  |   Weaving exhibition at George Vanier Cultural Centre
2-4  |   Crafts making workshops
5-6  |   Mural making events

1-2   |   Bisa Butler, American quilting artist 
2-3  |   Traditional Kente Cloth weaving in bands
5-6  |   Hair care as a form of weaving and support for conversation and sharing

1-2   |   Western counterbalance loom 
2-6  |   Kente cloth loom