Lenapehoking is a historical center that borders the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY. This historical center aims to preserve the historical significance and rich culture of the Lenape tribe who are indigenous to the area. Unfortunately due to the lack of care by industrial and manufacturing plants that dumped waste into the canal for several decades, the Gowanus Canal has become one of the most polluted waters in New York. The way of the Lenape people, working in harmony with nature, was lost.

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The goal of Lenapehoking Historical Center is to not only tell and preserve the story of the Lenape tribe but also to clean the Gowanus canal through the restoration of wetlands that once existed in Brooklyn. This restoration aligns with the Gowanus Lowland Master Plan, a large-scale project aimed at cleaning the Gowanus canal and its surrounding areas.

 

The historical center follows the shape of traditional Lenape structures: the long house, the wigwam, and the lean-to. At the exterior, the long vertical wood structures represent the lean-to, while the large glass dome on one end represents the wigwam. On the other end is a curtain wall with a tree stamped in front of the glass. This represented the mother tree, tying together the modern representation of the building with nature and history. The long building, representing the long house, has a white facade, with the intention that local artists will display their work on this clean canvas. The interior is cladded with wood to simulate the feeling of being inside a long house.

 

The interior also features crossing ramp systems. This not only creates an accessible space but also allows the visitors to slowly wander through the historical center. At the top of the structure are several round skylights, representing the smoke holes found in long houses.

 

The site, located adjacent to the Gowanus canal, also connects to the nearby pedestrian bridge.