“Let’s bring people back to the river.” The Olentangy River, as one of the main waterways flowing through Columbus, was once the main settlement of the Indigenous tribe------Delaware. Ever since the Native Americans left Ohio in the 19th century, the riverside has become one of the least developed and least populated areas in the region, facing growing issues of flooding and sedimentation. While the Indigenous people lived and thrived along the Olentangy, it seemed like the river had been forgotten by modern society. As such, this project serves as an Indigenous community/educational center located along the Olentangy River, aiming to encourage people to reconnect with the river, adapt to its rhythms, and contribute to the environmental restoration of the area. The design takes an expansive, fluid form along the riparian edge. It features three piers and multiple movable pods that can be repositioned along the water depending on changing water levels and weather conditions. The building also addresses the challenges of flooding and sedimentation through various activities such as native plant cultivation, buffer zone reinforcement, and river bed clean-up. By creating a space that responds to the changing natural environment based on Native American culture, I wanted a new means of interacting with the world------one that contrasts with the predominantly Western approach to living.
