Abstract

Since the 1980s, Montreal has been experiencing suburban sprawl off the island, in the form of neo-modern suburban development. Neo-modern suburbs are replacing both the local culture and natural ecosystems with a technocentric, Token Ecology - a modern symbolic representation of the natural environment. The purpose of this thesis is to find out how to change the technocentric image of ecological homes to a deeper ecological image. This thesis focuses on three central issues: (1) the three primary spaces that make up the habitus of the suburban home (2) the contradictory nature of the mind and action of the suburban image and lifestyle (3) the cultural infrastructures that affect the suburbanite's image. As a case study twenty participants who are young parents or soon to be parents from the Western Suburbs of Montreal (West Island and The Vaudreuil-Soulanges Region) were used to explore the transition to a deeper ecological image. The results form my research have concluded that: (1) the underlying reason why young parents chose to move to the westerns suburbs is that it offers the three primary spaces while the city does not (2) the technocentric image of ecological homes and communities can be attributed to the image construction of popular media and (neo)modern design. The image projected is heavily technological and scientific, neglecting building typologies, biodiversity, consumption and lifestyle habits. (3) If the proper cultural infrastructures are implemented the chances of attain eco-communities are significantly greater.