a boathouse: or 14

In the early 20th century, the construction of the Ashokan Reservoir resulted in the displacement of various communities residing in the Ashokan and Esopus River Valley areas. Among these communities were Olive Bridge, Shokan, and West Hurley, which were inundated to facilitate the reservoir’s development aimed at providing clean drinking water to New York City. This forceful extraction led to the relocation of numerous residents, forcing them to abandon their homes, occupations, and accustomed way of life. Approximately 80% of individuals originally residing along the Esopus Valley Creek found themselves dispersed around the periphery of the reservoir.

Presently, efforts are underway to enhance access to the reservoir, which is currently difficult to reach due to concerns regarding potential contamination from runoff. Rather than constructing facilities on the ground, given the sensitivity of the surrounding environment, this project proposes the construction of steam-bent wooden structures within the canopy of trees. A network of 14 boat houses is envisioned to be curated to facilitate streamlined and convenient access to the reservoir for residents. Each boat house is designed to accommodate between 6 and 9 boats simultaneously to perpetuate further and continual access to the water. Moreover, they are intended to serve as magnetic points for community connection, drawing together communities that have become disconnected due to the infrastructure surrounding the water supply.