︎ Care and Commons in a Waterscape
Cornell University Fall 2021
Professors Tao DuFour and Suzanne Lettieri
In collaboration with Julia Vasilyev
The historical context of this region has always
been closely tied to the water. For generations, people have seen Niagara as a place of healing due to the minerals present in the water and the negative ions in the air from the falls. In the wintertime, people have practiced ice fishing in order to engage with the out-doors and procure sustenance.
The Adam’s Slip site is an anomaly in the Niagara River shoreline and slows down the rapid flow of the water in close proximity to the drop off of the falls. The bordering landscape houses a historical chimney that serves as a tourist attraction and carries with its motifs of home and gathering.
As a reaction to our research, historical precedents, and site context, our project integrates itself in the waterscape of the site. Through a series of rock jetties, the water flow into the site is slowed down further in order to promote the accumulation of native plants, birds, and fish. For the occupant, the jetties become a unique vantage point to observe the microecology that surrounds them.
In collaboration with Julia Vasilyev
The historical context of this region has always
been closely tied to the water. For generations, people have seen Niagara as a place of healing due to the minerals present in the water and the negative ions in the air from the falls. In the wintertime, people have practiced ice fishing in order to engage with the out-doors and procure sustenance.
The Adam’s Slip site is an anomaly in the Niagara River shoreline and slows down the rapid flow of the water in close proximity to the drop off of the falls. The bordering landscape houses a historical chimney that serves as a tourist attraction and carries with its motifs of home and gathering.
As a reaction to our research, historical precedents, and site context, our project integrates itself in the waterscape of the site. Through a series of rock jetties, the water flow into the site is slowed down further in order to promote the accumulation of native plants, birds, and fish. For the occupant, the jetties become a unique vantage point to observe the microecology that surrounds them.
