The focus of this project was to build lightly on the land, using natural and light materials like wood, and gesturing upwards towards the lake inlet as a means to giving back to the water spirits. The site was previously long used as a summer camp by the Mi’kmaq. The site in which the project finds itself, Graham’s Grove, is on the shore of Banook Lake, part of the Shubenacadie Canal system. This waterway was vital to Mi’kmaw life and culture. The building reads as two “long boats" that run parallel to the waterway and point towards the lake inlet. The cut at the front face of the building lifts upwards and is infilled with slats that will glow like a lantern in the evening hours along the pedestrian and bike path that skirts along the site. The initial building program included the replacement of the concrete bunker style park washrooms, a gathering space and place to store items for the Dartmouth Dragon Boat Association(DDBA), and a location for the Kiwanis Club to sell ice cream in the summertime and host small events. The club has been selling ice cream and Christmas trees out of a temporary trailer for many years. The existing parking lot is also a popular meeting point in the city and is also used to stage community events, such as running races and other popular public community events.
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