1. ArchDaily
  2. Detroit

Detroit: The Latest Architecture and News

2013 "Redesigning Detroit: A New Vision for an Iconic Site" Winners Announced

Rock Ventures LLC and Bedrock Real Estate Services has announced the winners of Opportunity Detroit’s international design competition which solicited ideas for a potential signature project on the former Hudson’s Department Store site in downtown Detroit. The three winning design ideas came from Rome, Italy; Kalamazoo, Michigan; and Southfield, Michigan. More images and information on the winning entries after the break.

'Redesigning Detroit: A New Vision for an Iconic Site' Winning Proposal / Davide Marchetti Architetto

'Redesigning Detroit: A New Vision for an Iconic Site' Winning Proposal / Davide Marchetti Architetto - Urban Design , Facade, Cityscape
Courtesy of Davide Marchetti Architetto

Davide Marchetti Architetto shared with us his first prize winning proposal, titled ‘Minicity Detroit,’ for the Redesigning Detroit: A New Vision for an Iconic Site competition. Utilizing the surrounding urban fabric as the generator for a new vision of the city, their concept directly responds to the site and its place in the city by bringing the existing physical form and history into the site. More image and architect’s description after the break.

'Redesigning Detroit: A New Vision for an Iconic Site' Competition Entry / Various Architects

The mission in the proposal, titled ‘The Grand Opening,’ for the Redesigning Detroit: A New Vision for an Iconic Site competition is to create a vision for a 24/7 timeless, vibrant and walk-able urban neighborhood in downtown Detroit with a catalytic impact on the retail activities of Woodward Avenue Corridor. Designed by Chung Whan Park, Terry Park, Jeong Jun Song, Hyuntek Yoon and Kyung Jae Yu, The Grand Opening will connect the different contexts of the existing urban settings and bring every hour of excitement, crowd and memorable identity to the street life of downtown Detroit. More images and architects’ description after the break.

An Opportunity for Revitalization in Detroit

Young entrepreneurs gravitate to places where they can become the founders of a revitalized culture; where land is cheap and available and innovation is uninhibited by a status quo. Detroit, Michigan has become one of those places. The media gives us a portrayal of a wasteland, a post apocalyptic landscape of dilapidated homes and infrastructure. But there is plenty opportunity for start-ups to redefine Detroit's future. That it why young innovators and risk-takers are needed to bring new energy and awaken new markets within the city. A recent article by Chuck Salter for Fast Company identifies six entrepreneurs who have started businesses in Detroit. They vary from grassroots campaigns to inform people of opportunities within the city to small scale enterprises that bring retail and infrastructure to the downtown area and surrounding neighborhoods.

More after the break.

TechTown District Plan / Sasaki Associates

The TechTown District Plan by Sasaki Associates articulates an inspiring vision for the revitalization of the district. An emerging knowledge district in Midtown Detroit, this town is currently characterized by surface parking, vacant properties, and inward-facing, siloed hubs of activity. The architects' concept, however, aims to accelerate innovation, promote entrepreneurship, and build community around the generation of ideas in a vibrant, mixed-use setting. More images and architects' description after the break.

Redesigning Detroit: A New Vision for an Iconic Site

In an effort to generate innovative ideas for the re-use of one of the most important building sites in Detroit’s redeveloping downtown, Rock Ventures LLC has collaborated with Opportunity Detroit to launch the open ideas competition Redesigning Detroit: A New Vision for an Iconic Site. Entrants are challenged to create compelling visions for a new urban development on the famous 92,421 square foot Hudson's site that would play a significant role in the regeneration of downtown Detroit.

Detroit by Design 2012 Competition Winning Proposal / Matthew Edward Getch + Maciej Woroniecki

Detroit by Design 2012 Competition Winning Proposal / Matthew Edward Getch + Maciej Woroniecki - Image 5 of 4
Aerial Perspective of Hart Plaza

Aiming to create a riverfront like none other in the world, landscape architect Matthew Edward Getch and architect Maciej Woroniecki shared with us their proposal in the Detroit by Design 2012 competition where they received the 2nd overall prize and the first prize for the People’s Choice Award. The goals of their proposal were born from Detroit’s apparent weakness. They established linear interventions which recognized the severed parks and green networks and utilized them to reconnect the citizens of Detroit back to the riverfront through pedestrian friendly portals. More images and architects’ description after the break.

The United Way for Southeastern Michigan Headquarters / SmithGroup

The United Way for Southeastern Michigan Headquarters / SmithGroup - Offices Interiors, Beam, Facade, Column, ArchThe United Way for Southeastern Michigan Headquarters / SmithGroup - Offices Interiors, Beam, Table, ChairThe United Way for Southeastern Michigan Headquarters / SmithGroup - Offices Interiors, Facade, Handrail, Chair, TableThe United Way for Southeastern Michigan Headquarters / SmithGroup - Offices Interiors, Facade, Beam, Column, Handrail, Table, BenchThe United Way for Southeastern Michigan Headquarters / SmithGroup - More Images+ 5

  • Architects: SmithGroup
  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  4366
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2009

'The Forest' Detroit Riverfront Competition 1st Prize Winning Entry / Hyuntek Yoon, Soobum You (Team Atelier Why)

'The Forest' Detroit Riverfront Competition 1st Prize Winning Entry / Hyuntek Yoon, Soobum You (Team Atelier Why) - Image 9 of 4
Courtesy of Hyuntek Yoon, Soobum You (Team Atelier Why)

Hyuntek Yoon and Soobum You of Team Atelier Why shared with us their first prize winning proposal in the Detroit Riverfront competition. Their ‘Forest’ concept, which aims at being a fairy tale between the city and the forest by ‘filling’, is the focus of the urban development. Currently, the site is filled with voids, such as trees and the knoll, but the forest creates rich stories with the city. Providing spaces that are more secure and for smaller activities, people will have the chance to experience nature. More images and architects’ description after the break.

Detroit River Front Competition Entry / AMA

Detroit River Front Competition Entry / AMA - Image 1 of 4
Courtesy of Architetto Matteo Ascani (AMA)

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.

Mies Towers for Sale....(Just Read the Fine Print first)

Mies Towers for Sale....(Just Read the Fine Print first) - Featured Image
Lafayette Park (1946) Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Photo via Flickr CC User MI SHPO. . Used under Creative Commons

No architectural gem is safe from Detroit’s foreclosure crisis – not even two of Mies Van der Rohe’s very own creations. The Lafayette Towers, two 22-story towers of 584 units, originally part of a major urban redevelopment project in the late 50s early 60s, are up for auction July 18th.

But be warned, there is a catch…

Find out the fine print, after the break.

2011 Detroit Canstruction® Design/Build Exhibit

2011 Detroit Canstruction® Design/Build Exhibit - Featured Image
Courtesy of Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan

From October 26-30, 2011, the community is invited to the Detroit Institute of Arts’ (DIA) Great Hall to explore the 2011 Detroit Canstruction® Design/Build exhibit. Giant sculptures made completely of canned food will be on display highlighting the event’s theme – “You can’t spell food without the D.”

Thousands of vegetable, soup and other canned goods will be used to create unique works of art built by teams of local architects, designers, engineers, contractors and students. Detroit Canstructionâ will help raise awareness about hunger issues while nourishing families in need. All cans used in the exhibits will be donated to Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan (Gleaners). More information on the event after the break.

10 Up and Coming Urban Neighborhoods

10 Up and Coming Urban Neighborhoods - Image 17 of 4
Photo by David Hilowitz

USA Today has put together a list of city neighborhoods which are satiated with activity, areas which offer a “great slice of urban life.” These districts trend from the urban vicinity to its very core, each in itself exemplifying the revitalization of the American city. The list includes regions which have been influenced by deliberate urban revitalization projects, such as High Line Park in Chelsea; while other neighborhoods have experienced an influx of a younger populace which has contributed to its growth, such as Lawrenceville in Pittsburgh.

See the 10 Up and Coming Urban Neighborhoods after the break.

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, North Terminal / Gensler

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, North Terminal / Gensler - Airport, Column, Facade, Chair, TableDetroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, North Terminal / Gensler - AirportDetroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, North Terminal / Gensler - Airport, Facade, Lighting, Chair, TableDetroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, North Terminal / Gensler - Airport, LightingDetroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, North Terminal / Gensler - More Images+ 9

Myrtle Beach International Airport / inFORM Studio

Myrtle Beach International Airport / inFORM Studio - Image 4 of 4
© inFORM Studio

The Terminal Expansion Capacity Program for the Myrtle Beach International Airport demonstrated a need to develop a new terminal for airport operations and additional gates to serve the increased passenger load. inFORM Studio‘s $129 million project, governed by a tight budget and site parameters, includes a new ticketing lobby, baggage claim, baggage handling, TSA screening, a new 5 gate concourse and connector bridge to existing concourse with an additional gate integrated into the bridge to maximize the efficiency of circulation space. More information and images of the Myrtle Beach International Airport after the break.

Detroit by Design

Detroit by Design - Featured Image

Detroit by Design’, a symposium and exhibition hosted by the AIA Detroit Urban Priorities Committee, will welcome the architecture and design community to study the unique and challenged urban infrastructure of Detroit through three key issues: urban centers, transportation, urban agriculture over the next three months. This month ‘Detroit by Design’ will address the topic of transportation with an exhibit on April 5th and discussions on April 13th. All exhibits and symposiums will be held at the Detroit Public Library and are free and open to public. Further details of ‘Detroit by Design’ following the break.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Turkel House Gets a Second Life

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Turkel House Gets a Second Life - Image 5 of 4
© Flickr: The Javelina. Used under Creative Commons

When Dale Morgan and Norman Silk spotted a “For Sale” sign in front of a contemporary home in the Palmer Woods neighborhood of Detroit it was just what they were looking for, so they snatched it up. Little did they know that they had just stumbled into buying a true Frank Lloyd Wright designed home, known as the Turkel House.

To answer the question you are all asking yourselves, how could they not have known, it turns out that 25 years of disrepair, long periods of vacancy and changing owners hands combined with years of deferred maintenance and overgrown vegetation can hide a FLW design quite well.

More following the break.

Rosa Parks Transit Center / FTL Design Engineering Studio

Rosa Parks Transit Center / FTL Design Engineering Studio - Exterior Photography, Other StructuresRosa Parks Transit Center / FTL Design Engineering Studio - Other StructuresRosa Parks Transit Center / FTL Design Engineering Studio - Other StructuresRosa Parks Transit Center / FTL Design Engineering Studio - Other StructuresRosa Parks Transit Center / FTL Design Engineering Studio - More Images+ 8

  • Area Area of this architecture project Area:  4645
  • Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  2009
  • Manufacturers Brands with products used in this architecture project
    Manufacturers:  ExTech, FabriTec Structures