The main objective for the Detroit River Front proposal is to create a new image of the city, an exclusive and unique landmark that glances to a future Detroit involved in its nature that it forgot for a long time. Designed by Architetto Matteo Ascani (AMA), the project for the redevelopment of Hart Plaza is divided in major guide lines: water, nature, history. They provide a new landscape system, where water enters inside the plaza by canals that redesign the cost line, as the river comes closer to the downtown. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Through their concept, Fort Pontchartrain du Detroit is rediscovered, using water cuts on the ground floor that reminds the old fort plan; the area during the day flood in different ways creating water playground. The demolition of the multilevel parking would provide a greater permeability, instead of it we design a new underground parking under the square; it ensures a better integration, an increased permeability from the downtown to the river.
New pedestrian walks are created due to ramps that run to the riverside and to the ease access to the square will give the opportunity to meet different suggestions: the nature of the “headland”, going down closer to the river easily. People can enjoy the river, where sport and open air activities are welcome: new pool integrated in the new building. The river walk is redesigned, an arc suspended on the river, a panoramic place where is possible to watch Detroit, a new entrance from the river.
The human being constantly change landscape, making it akin to their own needs; we could hardly consider a place “natural”, because the environment is a sum of natural and historical conditions that determine the form, function and aesthetics. The competition area over the years had significant changes since it was directly influenced by man: from a natural place through Fort Pontchartrain du Detroit, becoming in 1979 an urban concrete square.
Detroit people need a new starting point, a new project in the most important public space to create a new image for Detroit a sparkle that make possible a city rebirth, a new positive symbol that can mix the city and nature. The project plans to reorganize a new social and economic fabric, the square will be integrated into daily dynamics and living in nature.
Architects: Architetto Matteo Ascani (AMA) Location: Detroit, Michigan, United States Project Team: Matteo Ascani, Alessandro Mancini, Gabriele Meluzzi, Marco Fabi, Tiffany Rappich Collaborators: Alice Sordoni, Giacomo Generali, Giulia Druda, Mirko Boccalini
