Defining wilderness: the evolution of Banff National Park

Banff National Park, Canada's oldest national park, exemplifies how wilderness is deeply embedded in Canadian cultural identity and history. This study reveals that park boundaries serve as spatial tools to project legal frameworks and cultural values, shaping landscapes rather than merely preserving them. Through an architectural analysis of Banff's evolving boundaries, the research dissects their interactions with industrial interests, cultural landmarks, and historical narratives, exposing dynamics of power, exclusion, exploitation, and commercialization. It highlights how romanticized notions of wilderness have influenced Canadian attitudes toward landscape conservation versus industrialization.

Mayer, F., Bernbaum, P., Neuhaus, F., & Robertson, N. (2023). Defining wilderness: the evolution of Banff National Park. Architecture_MPS, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.14324/111.444.amps.2023v26i1.003