BDE MAKA SKA GATEWAY

Resilient Community & Architecture
Net Zero Site Goals
Celebrating Identity
Canvas for Story Telling

Bde Maka Ska and the chain of lakes are an important space for community connections. No matter the season, the lakes are a place for activity, gathering, respite, and inspiration.

The new gateway to Bde Maka Ska takes a resilient approach to creating community space. The simple forms are constructed with clt and clad in locally sourced cedar. The building forms are shaded from summer sun by a bright canopy, reminiscent of sails. The canopy will direct air currents into and across the volumes and provide space for a Solar array to power the building and adjacent site.

Large perforated metal signs sit in front of the wood volumes and announce the lake from a distance. The building forms pull apart at the entry to the site, allowing a long view out onto a dock over the lake. On the lake side of the building there is a patio for the new restaurant, and stairs and ramps create an amphitheater down to the waters edge.

The identity and story of the community must be created by the community. All of the residents of Minneapolis that enjoy this lake have a voice, and we must take an equitable approach to make sure those voices are heard here. An Interpretive center is located at the entry in an opening between wood volumes, with space for exhibits, didactics, murals, and other expressions to center this space in the community.