Mahshad Azimi

Spaces of Belonging: Inclusive Architecture for People and the Environment

Winnipeg, a city renowned for its rich multicultural fabric, presents both opportunities and challenges for fostering social connection. While many cultural groups have dedicated gathering spaces for community events and festivals such as Folklorama, others, like the Persian community, lack inclusive spaces to share and celebrate their culture. Architecture plays a fundamental role in shaping how people experience belonging and comfort within a place. As Winston Churchill states, “We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us,” highlighting how the built environment influences people’s sense of home, identity, and well-being. This observation inspired my thesis, which asks: how can architectural design foster inclusivity and bring people together across all nationalities while responding respectfully to the surrounding environment? I aim to explore architectural and spatial parameters that make built environments more inclusive, inviting, and responsive to both social and climatic contexts.

Given Winnipeg’s long winters, when outdoor public life is limited, my thesis seeks to create a year-round gathering space. By working with natural conditions rather than against them, architecture can foster resilience and a stronger connection between people, culture, and the surrounding environment. Also, being environmentally responsible is another goal of the project.

My investigation starts with the study of the existing community and cultural centres in Winnipeg to understand how architectural design influences social interaction. This research asks: What spatial and architectural elements make these places inviting for people to gather and hold events? How do location, accessibility, and transit connection affect their success as inclusive spaces? By analyzing where and how people gather, the project identifies design parameters that can foster comfort, inclusion, and belonging, factors essential for creating a space that connects diverse communities.

Alongside my research on inclusive architecture, I am researching the site. The proposed site is a parking lot at the Forks, in front of Canadian Museum of Human Rights (CMHR), located at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, which has historically been a meeting ground for trade, culture, and dialogue. While that context is now largely touristic, my thesis reimagines it as a more local, community-oriented hub, where inclusivity and sustainability intersect.  The Green Municipal Fund (GMF)  is funding construction at Forks which is called Railside; focusing on social equity, climatic strategies, resilience, and recognizing that environmental and social challenges are deeply interconnected. Railside at the forks will happened on the site that I am studying, which includes mixed used buildings including residentials and commercial on the first floor. My next step is to see what are the pros and cons to start designing from an empty land and consider Railside is not there, or design my community center in the podium of one of the residentials.

Based on the GMF focus, by addressing both climate and cultural inclusivity, the proposed design envisions a sustainable and equitable future, one where architecture not only shelters but also connects, empowers, and unites.