DETROIT FRONT PORCH:
Manufactured Ecologies and a New Paradigm of Riverfront Resilience 2013 MASLA UNBUILT WORKS ENTRANT
detroit river
IT STARTS WITH THE RIVER: Manufactured Ecolgies and a New Paradigm of Riverfront of Resilience AS socio-cultural and economic paradigms
1
FUTURE “FRONT PORCH” RIVERFRONT
change, so to changes the physical infrastructure and built patterns of our cities. In Detroit, we have witnessed the change from prairie meadows with infinite horizons to a city on the verge of a new future. From its start as a fur trading post, through its initial settlement by the French and their distinct ‘long lot’ subdivisions of land; from a city of industry that lead the 20th century industrial revolution; to a community that is taking a new breath for a brighter tomorrow. This new breath starts by looking backwards through the lens of history- to recognize and celebrate its past- while projecting forward a new image based on a return to its river, a return to quality of life, and a return to a global international city. For this reason, the proposal “starts with the river”.
OUR visioning proposal commences with an understanding that the current site conditions reflect the physical legacy of pre-21st century social and cultural attitudes. A palimpsest of industrial legacy, the site is currently dominated by infrastructure and transit networks, of utility and function, of disconnections and unhealthy soil and water. The physical manifestation of these attitudes results in a marginal and underutilized and un-maintainable land-uses- ironically-found at the core of Detroit. What makes Detroit’s riverfront trajectory distinct is not only its creative people or its stunning riverfront setting, but a commitment to a resilient, healthy future. This future is one energized by a “return to the river”, a commitment to green live+work+play, and one of community prosperity.
We propose a paradigm shift, with a belief that for Detroit to achieve its goals it must look to year-round activities and imbue the riverfront with a multidimensional program that has: healthy land, water and energy; healthy social networks unbounded by time-honored family activities alongside recent and emerging trends in recreation; and finally, a community foundation as a place to celebrate the strong cultural diversity, prosperity and resilience of a global city of the 21st century. This paradigm shift is central to the Proboscis DETROIT visioning proposal.
DETROIT FRONT PORCH 1889 “FRONT PORCH” RIVERFRONT 2
3
CURRENT RIVERFRONT
CURRENT RIVERFRONT @ HART PLAZA 4
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vision IT STARTS WITH THE RIVER: Proboscis Detroit As socio-cultural and economic paradigms change, so to changes the physical infrastructure and built patterns of our cities. In Detroit, we have witnessed the change from prairie meadows with infinite horizons to a city on the verge of a new future. From its start as a fur trading post, through its initial settlement by the French and their distinct ‘long lot’ subdivisions of land; from a city of industry that lead the 20th century industrial revolution; to a community that is taking a new breath for a brighter tomorrow. This new breath starts by looking backwards through the lens of history- to recognize and celebrate its past- while projecting forward a new image based on a return to its river, a return to quality of life, and a return to a global international city. For this reason, the proposal “starts with the river”.
This vision begins with the Detroit River. It is the central element of the city. With a river stage that changes seasonally, the river hydrology becomes an asset to provide a dynamic urban “wild” exploration grounds. At the heart of the site, current river’s edge streets and parking garages that inhibit visual and physical access to the We propose a paradigm shift, with a belief that for Detroit to achieve its goals it must look to year-round activities and imbue water are removed parking is placed below the plaza. Spaces the riverfront with a multi-dimensional program that has: healthyand land, water and energy; healthy social networks unbounded by time-honored family activities alongside recent and emerging trends in recreation; and finally, a community foundation as a place to celebrate the strong prosperity and(or resilience of a global city of the 21st century. This paradigm thatcultural arediversity, perceived real) security and maintenance issues- such shift is central to the Proboscis DETROIT visioning proposal. as the existing amphitheaters and stairwells- are removed and This vision begins with the Detroit River. It is the central element of the city. With a river stage that changes seasonally, the river hydrology becomes an asset to provide a dynamic urban “wild” exploration grounds. At the heart of the site, current river’s edge their essential program relocated to more vibrant and accessible streets and parking garages that inhibit visual and physical access to the is water are removed and parking is placed below the plaza. Spaces that are perceived (or real) security and maintenance issues- such as the existing amphitheaters and stairwellslocations within Atop the plaza and atandthe edge of downare removed and their essential program is relocated to morethe vibrantsite. and accessible locations within the site. Atop the plaza at the edge of downtown, a “Garden of the Great Lakes” welcomes visitors to a new Hart Plaza anchored by existing sculptures. The plaza surface is activated by celebration spatial programming punctuated with water play “springs and fountains” and visitors to a new town, a “Garden of and the Great Lakes” welcomes spatially defined by pear tree allees, which also provide flanked space for resting form water play or for bocce and picnicking. Hart Plaza anchored by existing sculptures. The plaza surface is The riverbank is pulled back, serrated and reorganized into long strips (recalling the French long lots and their pear groves), revealing dramatic floodplain wetlands and forests, interconnected by canoe or floating boardwalks that recall a chloroplast activated by celebration spatial programming and punctuated with network of plant tissues and chemins (or paths). These areas are interconnected through a new esplanade that serves as an experiential cross-section through the water edge programming. Sprinkled within this network are opportunities for wildlife water play “springs and fountains” and spatially defined by pear watching, swimming, walking, fishing, kayaking and sunbathing. In the shallow water, floating peninsula provide space for sand volleyball, hockey, basketball, and performance of all manner. Culminating the proposal is the Proboscis, an elevated riverfront tree allees, which also provide flanked space for resting form water icon that provides grand views up and down the Detroit River while beckoning and welcoming the arrival of international visitors from the north. play or for bocce and picnicking. Our visioning proposal commences with an understanding that the current site conditions reflect the physical legacy of pre-21st century social and cultural attitudes. A palimpsest of industrial legacy, the site is currently dominated by infrastructure and transit networks, of utility and function, of disconnections and unhealthy soil and water. The physical manifestation of these attitudes results in a marginal and underutilized and un-maintainable land-uses- ironically-found at the core of Detroit. What makes Detroit’s riverfront trajectory distinct is not only its creative people or its stunning riverfront setting, but a commitment to a resilient, healthy future. This future is one energized by a “return to the river”, a commitment to green live+work+play, and one of community prosperity.
unitedstates
PROBOSCIS VIEWING PLATFORM
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B C
ts Sports Lo Riverfront
5
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Esplanade
nection Bridge Con Pedestrian
lanade za and Esp to Hart Pla tion Center from Conven
Esplanade
Stage
ar Tree Allee French Pe
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ront Plaza GM Riverf
AERIAL PERSPECTIVE VIEWED FROM CANADA
DETROIT RIVER
A
al Beach Internation
detroit river esplanade/ long lots park/ viewing pier
riverfront theater and stage/ viewing pier
garden of the great lakes, hart plaza and french pear allee 60 50 40 30 20
underground railroad memorial
viewing pier and riverfront theater
10
existing sculpture
memory wall
0
-10
performance lawn
esplanade
promenade
20 -20
stage
-30
A
30 20
garden of the great lakes
hart plaza springs and fountains riverfront long lots park + chemin
existing sculpture
esplanade
10 0 -10
riparian wetlands and ecological bank
-20 -30
B
30 20
pavilion
pedestrian connection from hart plaza to convention center
troit m a proboscis viewing platform with 1840 Detroit map riverfront long lots park + chemin
esplanande
garden of the great lakes
10 promenade
sun lawn -10
garage
riparian wetlands and ecological bank
9339650
garage
elevator
-20
C reorganized into long strips The riverbank is pulled back, serrated and (recalling the French long lots and their pear groves), revealing dramatic floodplain wetlands and forests, interconnected by canoe or floating boardwalks that recall a chloroplast network of plant tissues and chemins (or paths). These areas are interconnected through a new esplaD nade that serves as an experiential cross-section through the water edge programming. Sprinkled within this network are opportunities for wildlife watching, swimming, walking, fishing, kayaking and sunbathing. In the shallow water, floating peninsula provide space for sand volleyball, hockey, basketball, and performance of all manner. Culminating the proposal is the Proboscis, an elevated riverfront icon that provides grand views up and down the Detroit River while beckoning and welcoming the arrival of E international visitors from the north. elevator
-30
elevator
40 30
french pear tree allee
riverfront forest
20 10
pedestrian connection from hart plaza to convention center
picnic + bocce
esplanade
picnic + bocce
picnic + bocce
river slough garden
garage garage
elevator
convention center
proboscis
PROBUSCIS LANDING
esplanade
0
-10
cobo hall
pedestrian connection from hart plaza to convention center
-20
elevator
-30
RIVERFRONT VIEW FROM ELEVATED PROBOSCIS PLATFORM ABOVE DETROIT RIVER 6
long lots park and riparian chemin
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CONSTRUCTED RIPARIAN ECOLOGICAL SHREDS
DETAIL OF WETLAND SHRED AND MESH SUB-STRUCTURE 6
detroit river esplanade/ long lots park/ viewing pier
riverfront theater and stage/ viewing pier
garden of the great lakes, hart plaza and french pear allee
riverfront theater and stage/ viewing pier 60 50 40 30 20
underground railroad memorial
viewing pier and riverfront theater
10
existing sculpture
memory wall
0
-10
performance lawn
esplanade
promenade
20 -20
stage
-30
A
30 20
hart plaza springs and fountains riverfront long lots park + chemin
7
esplanade
PIER, AMPHITHEATER SHRED ON MOVIE NIGHT, LOOKING TOWARDS CANADA riparian wetlands and ecological bank
garden of the great lakes
existing sculpture
10 0 -10 -20 -30
B
garden of the great lakes, hart plaza and frenc
DETAIL OF AMPHITHEATER SHRED AND MESH SUBSTRUCTURE 8 memory wall
existing sculpture
riverfront long lots park + chemin riverfront long lots park + chemin
esplanande
esplanade
riverfront theater stage/ riparianand wetlands andviewing ecologicalpier bank
sun la
garden of the great lakes, hart plaza and french pear allee
riparian wetlands and ecological bank
60 50 40 30 20
underground railroad memorial
viewing pier and riverfront theater
10
existing sculpture
memory wall
0
-10
performance lawn
esplanade
promenade
20 -20
stage
-30
A
30 20
garden of the great lakes
hart plaza springs and fountains riverfront long lots park + chemin
riverfront forest
existing sculpture
esplanade
10 0
pedestria connectio to conven B -10
garden of the great lakes, hart plaza and french pear all
riparian wetlands and ecological bank
-20 -30
riverfront long lots park + chemin riverfront long lots park + chemin
riparian wetlands and ecological bank
esplanande
pedestrian connection from hart plaza to convention center
esplanande
sun lawn
river slough garden
sun lawn
30
esplanade 20
pavilion
garden of the great lakes
10 promenade -10
garage
riparian wetlands and ecological bank
garage
elevator
-20 elevator
-30
elevator
C
40 30
french pear tree allee riverfront forest
20 10
pedestrian connection from hart plaza to convention center
picnic + bocce
picnic + bocce
picnic + bocce
esplanade
9
river slough garden
PERFORMANCE PLAZA + PAVILION AND GARDEN OF THE GREAT LAKES
memory wall
0 -10
elevator
garage garage
-20
existing sculpture
elevator
-30
D 0
awn
pavilion
pedestrian connection from hart plaza to convention center
garden of
hart plaza springs and fountains
an on from hart plaza ntion center
garage garage
elevator
elevator
french pear tree allee
pavilion
pedestrian connection from hart plaza to convention center
elevator
garden of t
picnic + bocce
elevator
picnic + bocce
garage
garage
garage
garageelevator
SECTION DETAIL OF NEW HART PLAZA AND PEAR TREE ALLEE 10
riverfront theater and stage/ viewing pier
underground railroad memorial
viewing pier and riverfront theater
esplanade stage
detroit river esplanade/ long lot riverfront long lots park + chemin
esplanade
riparian wetlands and ecological bank
11 VIEW OF SHREDS AND PLAZA FROM PIER
pedes conne
garden of the great lakes, hart plaza and french pear allee 60 50 40 30 20 10
existing sculpture
memory wall
0
promenade -10
performance lawn
20 -20 -30
A
30 20
garden of the great lakes
hart plaza springs and fountains
strian ection from hart plaza
existing sculpture
10 0 -10 -20 -30
B
30 20 12 DETAIL OF ESPLANADE PASSAGE UNDER (LEFT) AND OVER (RIGHT) WETLAND SHRED SUBSTRUCTURE
pavilion
garden of the great lakes
10
UNITED STATES
CANADA
13 iNTERNATIONAL OVERLOOK PLATFORM PROVIDES ELEVATED VIEWS ABOVE DETROIT RIVER
RIPARIAN SHRED PROGRAM VARIATIONS 14