Reproducing youthified landscape character: An evaluation of diversity of built-forms in young adult neighbourhoods

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the built-form of young adult neighbourhoods across North America to assess the similarities and differences that exist across these landscapes. The thesis seeks to answer the following research question, 1) Are young adult neighbourhoods across North America characterized by a common aesthetic? To answer this research question the thesis examines current literature on ‘Place’, ‘Aesthetics’, ‘Young Adult Neighbourhoods’, and, ‘Character Assessments’ to develop a framework from within which it creates a new built-form character assessment tool that can systematically assess the diversity of built-forms in young adult neighbourhoods. Through the use of the tool the thesis collects data for 1279 establishments within 697 properties on 36 streets across 12 cities in Canada and the United States of America. The data provides evidence to suggest that dominant trends the built-form of young adult neighbourhoods do exist but they are not homogenous across neighbourhoods, cities, or countries.