Echoes in the Water: Visibility and Erasure Along the Erie Canal

Project Statement

This project reimagines the remnants of the Richmond Aqueduct along the Erie Canal as a place of remembrance, reconciliation, and cultural expression. Drawing inspiration from the structural rhythm of the aqueduct and the tectonics of the Iroquois longhouse, the design creates a contemporary intervention that honors the Indigenous communities once rooted in the region. A sunken sculpture gallery below the canal's waterline reveals Native American artwork as water levels change, symbolizing themes of visibility, memory, and resilience. Above, a Native Heritage Trail guides visitors across the historic towpath to lightly placed guesthouses with mirrored surfaces that blend into the surrounding forest. Gathering spaces encourage reflection while preserving the site's natural character. By transforming infrastructure once associated with displacement into a place of healing and dialogue, the project reconnects land, water, history, and culture. The result is a layered architectural experience that celebrates Native heritage while proposing new possibilities for adaptive reuse, storytelling, and ecological sensitivity.