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If any doubters needed hard evidence of Motor City's exciting upwards trajectory, look no further than Bedrock Detroit's plans to introduce a skyscraping mixed-use neighbourhood to the core of the city. Danish architectural firm Schmidt Hammer Lassen is working with local practice Neumann Smith on the Monroe Blocks scheme, an ambitious reworking of a site that aims to transpose Danish planning and design ideologies.
A 35-storey glazed office tower is the most legible element of the plan, initiating a modern glass volume that will stand in sharp contrast to the historic brick and stone facades of its neighbours. A 26-storey residential tower and an assortment of mid-rise buildings that house 480 units and retail aims to stitch together the urban fabric of a property key to the integrity of Woodward's radial plan of Detroit, which was mostly shattered following a fire in 1805.
Approximately 75,000 square metres of space is being set aside for offices, another 15,000 square metres for pedestrian-oriented shops, and 4,400 square metres for public space. The mid-rise blocks have been terraced so that views can be oriented towards the pedestrian areas in the middle of the project.
Surrounded by surface parking lots, the fate of the deteriorating 1911-built National Theatre — designed by Detroit architect Albert Kahn and listed on the National Register of Historic Places — remains unresolved in the plan. Despite the passionate plea of preservationists calling for its retention, the future of the landmark property has not yet been decided.
Work on the scheme is expected to begin next year and finish in 2022. Additional images and information can be found in the Database file linked below. Want to get involved in the discussion or share your photos? Check out the associated Forum thread or leave a comment in the field provided at the bottom of this page.
