ABANDON TIMMIES CUPS:
SOCIAL INTERACTIONS & CONTROL AND APPROPRIATION OF SPACE
ARCH4016 Cultural Sustainability
Casey Ouellette, Brook-Lynn Roy, Cat Daigle
RESEARCH & METHODOLOGY
Tim Hortons As Social Spaces
RESEARCH FINDINGS
In order to design an environment that satisfies the health and wellbeing of its users, it is fundamentally important to study and learn from preexisting built environments in order to better design for the future. Exterior public spaces, especially during the pandemic, have become more than ever a vital asset to communities, offering safety and wellbeing through strategic design principles. Public spaces consist of a wide range of environments, from community parks and outdoor facilities to public parking lots and store entrances. In this report, three separate Tim Horton locations within the Greater Sudbury region will be studied and contrasted in regards to how a repetitive design - such as how a franchise business - can exist in multiple locations, and yet maintain vastly different social dynamics and environments.
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The three sites of study are that of Hamner, New Sudbury, and the Downtown core, in essence; aiming to capture the entirety of Sudbury’s public spatial usage and environments. The urban context of each location is vastly different and thus will cause different atmospheric and experiential outcomes for each given location. The integration of design principles demonstrating the key characteristics of what makes a social space and how it influences the way in which its users experience the site can be broken down into categories of their surrounding site context, surface materials of choice, green space integration - or lack of, objects and other programmatic elements, and demographics for the given area. In order to frame and support positive experiences, behaviours and representations of a site's users and communities health and wellbeing must be taken into account.
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The idea of a Tim Hortons restaurant is well known, and the inclusion of a parking lot is more or less a given, where the overall concept offers a sense of comfort and community to each location. Sudbury holds a very horizontal manner of dealing with vehicle traffic, and the problem lies not in storage but in where these large flat asphalted areas take over what public spaces could be available to inhabit other programs. As users and designers, we need to take a step back and put the car second.
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Through monitoring each site's users and how they interact with each given design or lack or design scenario, this report aims to evaluate how humans adapt to environments designed for things other than themselves, such as a parking lots hierarchy of vehicle traffic and wellbeing over pedestrian foot traffic safety or ease of access. This study serves to prove the resilience of individuals where the potential for social environment exists but is not being utilized to its full potential due to the lack of care on the designer's behalf. For if a site is designed to repulse people, why do they still linger and adapt to each given condition; for there is a need that is not being fulfilled and it is in human nature to - consciously or not - fulfill these needs.
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The conducted analysis demonstrates how the urban context and the surrounding environment can have an effect on the social dynamics and the atmosphere surrounding such a familiar place. Located directly surrounded by similar amenities the three sites were in close proximity to a grocery store, a mall, other fast food restaurants, a main hwy artery and a liquor store. This piece of information determines that the direct surroundings play a large role in the shape and size of the parking area, but have little to no direct impact on the atmosphere of the space. Only when a large contextual image is drawn does the research begin to uncover the vast differences found between the three evaluated sites.
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Although the sites illustrate contrasting atmospheres and varying social dynamics, individuals still seem to appropriate these kinds of spaces in much the same way. The most noted observation is that, no matter how empty the lot, people tend to pause and gather on its edges, the centre is used solely for travel and represents a zone of hesitation for those looking where to go. This reaction to an open space creates interesting opportunities for interactions on the sites’ edges, however in the age of COVID-19 people within the site boundaries have been noted to purposely deviate from their path of travel in order to avoid these social interactions. In an environment so dominated by engines and tires, it's interesting to see how people are still drawn to a sense of familiarity even if it is found in an unfavourable environment.
RESEARCH BREAKDOWN
1. Site overview
- Surfaces
- Design
- Conditions (presence of no loitering signs)
- Direct Urban context
- General Urban context​​
2. How the urban informs the physical environment
Who hangs out here?
- Age
- Occupation/working class or nah?
- Gender?
Who hangs out when?
- Based on observations of time slots
- Based on physical characteristics of the site
- Recurring instances (people walk perimeter)
Why do users enter the space?
- Coming from surrounding things?
- Accessing surrounding things?
- Passing through?
- As a gathering grounds?
What do people do?
- Socializing?
- Food?
- Wifi?
- Use garbage?
- Bathroom?
How do people adapt the space to meet their needs?
- Using cars to sit (because of lack of seating)
- Bringing own chairs
- Standing against building
- Bike rack - or lack of
FIELD NOTES
Documentation has been collected for each of the three sites of study in an effort to better understand the characteristics of each.
NEW SUDBURY
Urban Condition: In a stripmall, pita pit, ice cream shop, gas station in lot, near new suds mall, hairdressers, beer store nearby, major roadway in town, school nearby
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Design: No shelter other than small overhang above the entrance, no seating, curbs too low to sit comfortably, drive through dominating the parking lot and not prioritizing pedestrian safety
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Surfaces: Asphalt, Concrete, Limited Grass (and Garbage)
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Morning (6:30AM-7:30AM)
Man Standing, roughly 15 seconds (6:52)
***seagulls
Man walking through parking lot
Baco (arrives @6:55 - leaves @ 6:18)
man exits w/ cigarette
puffs on way to door (no pause)
people pause @ door to remove masks
2 people standing by door Smoking (8mins)
man walks away after (6mins)
Man running (7:03)
Transport truck idle (7:09 - 7:16)
man can't parc - van WAY Over line.
man running man (passing through)
woman walking puts out cigarette, puts on mask (7:18)
Curbside pickup - worker exits to deliver coffee Keg
Men chatting (From arrival @6:30-7:30)
2 folding lawn chairs (2 men sitting)
man migrated to truck box when 3rd man appeared (standing at truck)
couple holding hands
Seagull eating leftover cheese slices unfazed by passing cars.
Man smoking from door to truck
Stands at truck roughly a minute
Workers use back area for smoke break but still enter through front door
Man sitting on ledge of window
Lunch (12:00PM-1:00PM)
man standing outside near newspaper on phone (45mins)
Couple (school aged) walk through
boy in car (12:0-12:17)
Boy paused by the door on the phone (roughly 45 sec.)
more people entering building
Walking at a slow pace
2 High school boys walking & chatting slow paced walk
no seagulls anymore!
more small groups
younger age average
people eating in their cars
1 seagull walking near the door (12:17)
The two high school boys look for a place to chill & eat
unpleased of place & hang around outer border to pause near more pedestrian
welcoming edge of parking lot.
seagull walking between cars
woman, pauses, enters hairdressers
Kid with loud truck revs engine (12:21)
Woman sitting in car (since 12:12)
2 older men exit & chat between cars before parting ways
group of 5 high school Kids
8 high school kids walk by, place unused mask on fire hydrant.
seagull has made a friend! (12:27)
3 kids slowly walking & talking
boy parks, checks his oil
Dad & Son
group of 4 Kids.
boy paused at front of store
2 high school kids chasing each other, laughing
Kids chasing each other
INTERACTION! man holds door for old man
woman fixes hat in window reflection
curbside pickup (12:37)
Bacco RETURNS (12:38)
brief run through
2 young girls
Woman sits on ledge, takes phone call (12:38-12:41)
boy waits outside for girl who got coffee
phone call woman gels up
2 high school kids
woman park NOT in parking spot (Jeep)
People hang around familiar cars
professional man pauses
Girl alone walking with phone
pauses in shelter of the tims
Stands near pillar
uses reflection to put on mask
woman walking up giant box
old man (not much cultural diversity)
Kids Come to steal wifi
curbside pick up
family - 1 woman enters
Man puts headphones in close proximity to people
2 pizza kids
People waited in cars for each other
woman smokes with door of van open & child in car
man holds door open for 6 people
woman walks fast, exposed ankles-she’s cold
people sit in cars for long periods of time
Douchebag truck revs engine (1:00)
needs new muffler, uneven Sound
2 older woman
boy who checked oil, Sprays Ether, start truck
Casey predicts massive Rev
she is correct. Black smoke.
INTERACTION! Woman holds door for 4 high school kids
Too many people inside, no one stands outside
Dinner (7:30PM-8:30PM)
man walked by garbage and didn't use it
used a different one.
worker walks with long strides
family 4 Children (boys), 2 adults - eating ice cream
- Kids sit on curb (7:35)
- man takes picture
two women interacting /talking between cars
people walk parking lot perimeter
man sits in truck with dog
woman walking w/ earbuds (7:45)
walks door turns around
child uses garbage
Woman stops at door (7:48)
Stares in hairdresser window (7:49)
Gets friend (man) handshake (7:52)
family in parked truck watch us & judge (7:51-7:54)
In handicap spot - should not
man w/ hands of groceries (7:54)
no seagulls.
Woman sits in van alone (7:54)
2 men in Reliance van parked talking to man in second car (windows open)
no masks,
security exits vehicule (7:58)
been parked for long time
Tims cup cleaned this morning/afternoon GONE
second guard shows up (woman) (8:00) lovers?
Security guard smokes le (8:11)
Woman stands at corner in light on phone with pad & paper
circling while talking (8:10)
2 young adults stand in circle behind car chatting & eating ice cream (8:22-8:28)
Woman walks slowly through lot
2 teens walk stop chat walk
HANMER
Urban Condition: Near mall, beerstore, major roadway, near McDicks, grocery store, small town
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Design: Open parking lot, abandoned building East of the Tim Hortons, not much shelter other than overhang above the entrance and surrounding the building, no seating, curbs too low to sit comfortably, spot lights in overhang on sidewalk near doors, drive through makes pedestrian foot traffic difficult / dangerous
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Surfaces: Asphalt, Concrete, Gravel, Grass
Morning (6:30AM-7:30AM)
Guy waits outside under roof canopy (timmies is @ capacity) 6:25 AM
it's raining
gets insicle 6:27AM
Standing and leaning on walls and doorways
Guy stands under canopy, pauses to grab keys
6:29AM: it's raining a decent amount
people walks and follow design elements: roof overhang
first rush ends @ 6:46AM
Man exists truck and looks confused for a moment
quad in the parking lot (worker maybe?)
people leave cars on when they go inside
people in a rush in the morning, most use drive thru
man exits, walks slowly to truck (unfazed by rain)
woman follows converted side walk all the way to car (proper design element)
Truck just chilling (before 6:20 - 6:46)
Empty parking lot Deadzone (6:48-6:53)
4drive thru cars total
Wave activated (6:54)
Vehicles interacting at abandoned building on east
Jeep just chilling
Socializing with person in car
man standing by car drinking coffee (6:51-7:13)
man sitting in truck (6:51)
man smoking by truck (6:59- leaves 7:08)
Talking to guy in car
car leaves jeep steals Spot (7:18)
woman walking/smoking
Fast pace
Walking building perimeter
Woman mass eye contact drive thru
man uses Shelter of building to put on mask
man searches through truck & then uses shelter of building to put on mask (7:12)
Red truck chilling
Man standing by car checks watch (7:13)
pedestrian enters from bus stop (7:16)
man hesitates for drive thru line, goes inside instead
Man gives no fucks walks in rain
Lunch (12:00PM-1:00PM)
Two kids lizarding on the grass by highway
Drive through is briefly empty (12:07pm)
Man parks in far end of lot and walks inside quickly
Two teenagers lean on side of building before going inside
truck waits in side parking (12:21)
guy gets food and leaves (12:25)
coffee
guy walks through parking lot (12:32)
Sits inside
rush slows down (12:44am)
never mind, keeps going….
Dinner (7:15PM-8:45PM)
group of 5 guys hang outside door with bikes
Start swerving around doing jumps off of curbs
man stands outside smoking passing behind car
man Stands outside under shelter Smoking
light turns on (7:41)
group of Kids show up with bikes (2G, 2B)
place bike against wall
talk standing in circle by back of building (7:42)
girl waves at people at far end of parking lot
Girl waits outside on her phone while boy goes into get beverage - she didn't have a mask (7:47
Man has been sitting in his truck alone Since at least (7:30 - leaves 7:45)
Man parks truck, blocking my view (7:45)
man sitting in truck (leave 7:47)
passenger went inside
kid chills in car near St-louis (7:43 -7:47)
2 Kids slowly walk together in parking lot (B+G)
Stand by door, hesitate / Awkward when group passes
peoples (at least 2-3) rummage through / talk around truck full of mud (duration 4mins)
Suv parks at abandoned building, no one gets out and it stays on
bikes & scooters gets lined against the extremities of the building (7:56)
fiat goes through drive- thru
then parks by abandoned building (8:01)
fiat left 8:03
man stand beside truck watching people inside while smoking (8:03)
parked past drive thru
turns looking at resto (8:00)
Walks into restaurant
burgundy car girl chills in car, guy has Smoke
guy checks his trunk (8.07)
Girl comes outside, goes into tims (Bathroom?)
man waits at car with cigarette
girl returns to car hangs out
man drinking from can
get back in car (8:14)
leaves (8:15)
Honda civic by drive-thru (7:53)
2 girls go inside
leave (8:15)
Kid finishing training hour (driving)
gets picked up by parent
parent talks to instructor (8:23 - it's gonna be a while)
Kids chase each other on bikes (8:23)
group of a adults sitting inside together (8:24)
3 Stand in circle at outside smoking
places coffee on window ledge
leans against window
man uses window ledge as seat
Standing in Circle regardless of height difference from curb
one man knows someone in car that pulls up
woman exits car for garbage goes inside tims
driver exits car, joins group of people, watches women Inside
3 adults from the group now chilling by the new car
They are going to be here a while
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DOWNTOWN
Urban Condition: A shared parking lot with LCBO, in close proximity to the mall, major roadway, neighboring transit terminal
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Design: High curbs, bollard, fenced in at highway, stairway for pedestrian lead to street Above, zigzag thing on high ledges to discourage people from sitting & hanging out, roof overhang around entire building, only accessible access to parking lot is via car route
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Surfaces: Asphalt, Concrete, Small grass area by hwy, surface elevations vary throughout the site, dirt and trees between Timmies parking and bus depot
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Morning (6:30AM-7:30AM)
man outside by door with bike (6:35)
man waits by LCBO building, rests coffee on pillon to light a cigarette
People following both sidewalk and street when walking
People tend to walk the same way out as they did in (in and out of parking lot)
Or people walk in opposite direction on their way out
Guy with bike follows road out
Girls chill at LCBO entrance median to look at phone
same girls shower at door w no mask (Timmies)
then walk away.
man walks into panning lot from rainbow center direction
Speed walker walks by road to get to Timmies
Most people take stairs in corner
man bums smoke from truck
Stands in center of parking lot to light it
Leaves through pedestrian trail to bus depot
man had mask on, no one else did so he took his off (6:55)
people sitting on ledge across from the parking lot since no loitering signs have been put around Timmies / LCB0 parking lots.
man passes through on bike
tucked bike next to transport storage
No bike lock areas
Chains bike and goes inside
lady takes picture of bike (7:03)
people wait outside under roof shelter
man runs through parking lot for a sound time (7:08)
more pedestrians use indoor/outdoor than cars use drive thru
mostly men have been walking into the building
man parked in his car by LCBO, as been there for about 30 minutes and counting (7:17)
Leaves (7:34)
white van parked by front doors since approx. (7:02), still there and counting
woman passenger (hooker?) enters timmies (7:18)
Some people show up separately but leave together
man pours coffee in thermos inside, puts thermos in bag then walks out with another coffee cup
woman rummages through bag @ LCBO garbage (7:20)
Then later hovers by timmies door way (then enters) (7:30)
2 men show up to sweep parking lot (7:22)
man leans bike against the window of timmies.
people who walk wrap around building
man with blanket returns and hang outside by doorway (7:27)
guy drops plankie by down way, walks around parking lot with smoke, (looks fazed)
picks up blankie, drops it, picks up pillow, leaves blanket, walks away (by staircase)
people chill by entrance after they have gotten their food/drinks.
mostly women (7:23 - 7:35)
people hanging outside doorway, not entering
lady continues to rummage through bag after getting food, leaves garbage from food on the ground
Man might have a gun (7:38)
woman calls police
Lunch (12:30PM-1:30PM)
Elevated vehicular traffic
people group by cntrance, group of 4 (3m, lw) +2 under shelter of overhang (12:39)
man uses window ledge to deposit coffee while collecting his items
2 men stand under shelter of over (12:42)
Man approaches Car & asks for attention (12: 44)
elderly man with walker uses parking lot car ramp to access (12:45)
Catherine & Casey get approached by multiple individuals. (12:50)
groups team up on them, they must leave people started taking pictures of them & their car
people travel in groups
Security at LCBO asks people to leave or risk getting ticketed
VERY limited parking, No tolerance for vehicule chilling (12:57)
People wait in line of outside LCBO to enter
people hover in groups around building corners. a against pedestrian fence
Bike parking = people rest it on side of building
Buses reduced to on the hour?
Parking lot near empty @1
Dinner (7:50PM-8:50)
2 men use ledge to go through their items, trading collected bottles & cans
2 more individuals join the rummage/trade (7:54)
3 people from group leave (7:59)
Leans against building for support
Uses wifi for phone texts (8:01)
Man with red suitcase leans against building with food, but stays away from other man
MAKES A FRIEND, both standing swaying side to side (8:27)
Man leaves with woman
Cyclist & man with stick enter together - car path to LCBO lights
Elderly woman with walker & older man use car path to access parking lot, fumble with items, walk slowly (8:04)
Woman stands in middle of LCBO parking lot on phone
Walks to tims parking lot, throws cigarette butt on ground, leaves (8:05)
Man with dog crosses parking lot (8:12)
Man with duffle bag walks slowly to door (8:16)
Man with umbrella and mask walks hastily through the parking lot VISIBLY uncomfortable
Car chilling near LCBO (8:03 - 8:40)
Man smoking in jeep since (8:07)
Cadillac backs into parking space, waits 1 minute then SPEEDS off
Man chills by stairs
Individuals walk around with bags
Jeep still in parking lot, starts car
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VISUAL DOCUMENTATION
A collection of recorded instances within each site that suggest to social interactions and or site appropriation.
Each site has been broken down into three prime times throughout the day; morning, afternoon, and evening, in order to determine the overall atmosphere of the site and surrounding area.
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Multiple instances have been documented of the site specific users having taken control of the environment and adapting it to the best of their ability in order to meet their needs.
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For the purpose of this documentation, the visual evidence will be displayed in a comparative approach between each site in order to understand the varying site conditions.
