Sinclair, Brian RobertRadmehr, Shirin2015-09-292015-11-202015-09-292015http://hdl.handle.net/11023/2541Big-box stores are large-scale, single storey buildings such as Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Canadian Tire, and Rona, to name a few. These types of projects have been present in North American cities for decades and have offered one-stop shopping experiences and lower prices than smaller, independent stores. However, big-box stores, at times, also present social, cultural, and environmental issues. This thesis explores the development of big-box retailers and examines their contribution to public space within the urban design context through the lens of a holistic approach. Using holistic guidelines, big-box buildings are critically analyzed in order to reconceive a design that is functional, environmentally sustainable, and aesthetically appealing. An integrated design framework is then developed that offers strategies to manage the complex issues of big-box retail and development. It also provides holistic solutions for sustainable design, while promoting a sense of place and increasing the potential for an attachment to place.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.ArchitectureBig-boxHuman ScaleHolismCommunityCharacterSafetyIntegrationSustainabilityUrban ImageSense of PlcaeEnvironmentmaster thesis10.11575/PRISM/25117