Derby Debris : Scrap as Strategy, Aesthetic, & Culture

Situated on the lands of the former Western Speedway in Langford, BC, this project explores how a racetrack can be reinterpreted as culturally vital and physically adaptable. Working under the framework of the “cheapscape,” I propose a design strategy that responds to contemporary ecological conditions while retaining the site’s cultural significance and community value. Beyond preservation, the project positions car culture as a source of knowledge for landscape architecture, particularly through practices of salvage, repair, and making do that have long supported working class communities. In contrast to normative landscape architecture’s reliance on new materials and greenification, the project advances a more resourceful approach to placemaking and park design. By working with existing materials, site conditions, and local knowledge, this project demonstrates that creative, ecologically responsible, and socially meaningful landscapes are possible without extravagance.