Urban Decay [2013-2014] USF SACD

Page 1

[ a catalyst for future growth and development ]

urban DECAY



“Artist’s change perspective; artists provide new interactions; artists re-imagine the possible.” –Toby Barlow



*All photos, drawings, and models by author except where noted

urban DECAY| An investigation into how adaptively reusing an abandoned building in a shrinking city such as Detroit can be a catalyst within the community generating revenue and creating growth and new development.

Documentation by:

STACEY ALEXANDRIA BROWN University of South Florida | School of Architecture + Community Design Masters Project Thesis Chair: Shannon Bassett Professor of Architecture University of South Florida| Tampa, FL Thesis Committee: Nancy Sanders Professor of Architecture University of South Florida| Tampa, FL Elisabeth Condon Professor of Painting and Drawing University of South Florida| Tampa, FL



CONTENTS Reflection

_06

Abstract

_08

_10

Historical Insight Landart + Landscaping Deindustrialization

_16 _26 _32

The Site

Disciplinary References

_36

Adaptive Reuse

_46

The Spur

_68

List of Figures

_94

Bibliography

_98



REFLECTION _06

EXPERIENCING DETROIT. My exploration of this topic is largely based on my own experiential reflections drawing from my visit to Detroit. I have found that the best way to really understand any place is to amerce one’s self into the community and have an open dialogue with whomever you encounter. By renting a bike and riding around the city; experiencing a day as if I lived in Detroit, and speaking with community members I was able to grasp the desires of the community. With that being said I came with a preconceived notion of a city in ruin, filled with crime and no life or activity however what I saw was quite the opposite; I found hope, life, and activity. I experienced the Eastern Market on a Saturday; farmers from all over come and sold their goods. Surrounding the market are restaurants and shops for families to eat, listen to music, and simply enjoy themselves. Moreover, the river walk in Detroit plays a part in the activity in the city. Looking out onto Canada, people can enjoy sitting in small pocket parks and read a book, run, rent and ride a bike, maybe let their child ride the carousel, eat at the cafe, or just relax and enjoy the view. Together community members are making efforts to rebuild their city and this since of comradery echoes throughout the city especially on a game day; which I was fortunate enough to experience. Community members have a love for their city and are working together to rebuild. It is said by Peter Kageyama in his book For the love of Cities that art and culture are what makes people love their cities and this goes without saying but the same can be said about Detroit. And although it was fairly brief, my visit to Detroit left me with a lasting impression and a realization of what is most important about Detroit as a city; it’s community members’ dedication to the redevelopment of their surroundings. There is still hope for this shrinking city and as I delved into my exploration of this topic of decay as a catalyst I maintained the notion of community involvement throughout.


Figure 1.0 [MCS Interior]


ABSTRACT _08

EMBRACING DECAY. Decay doesn’t just happen it’s a process that occurs over time, it’s reminiscent of loss and pain and Detroit as a whole is now in a state of decay. What was once known as motor city; home to automobile factories is now a shrinking city with a population that has declined from over 1 million to a mere 700,000 people. Because of this drastic decline many buildings were left abandoned to decay. One building in particular I have found to have great potential to have an impact on the regrowth of Detroit. Michigan Central station is a historic landmark towering over the majority of buildings in the city at over 200 feet tall and 500,000 square feet. It stands as a reminder of Detroit’s past and future; a thriving metropolis. As seen in the media there is a vast amount of abandoned buildings and crime in Detroit; even so there is still a large since of community. The remaining people in this city still care about what happens to Detroit and are making many efforts to rebuild. However, there has not been a large project to create a lasting impact; which is why the re-purposing of Michigan Central containing artists’ lofts and studios, galleries, large event spaces, cafés and shops would serve as a catalyst within the community. Welcoming the creative class of people and connecting to the existing activity that thrives with in the city. Moreover, art and culture are what makes people love their cities and by adaptively reusing Michigan Central station and utilizing it as a place for artists to work and dwell, it will in turn attract the masses. This location will welcome local artist and merchants to sell their wares, by doing so the community and then city as a whole will begin to thrive, because artists welcome the creative class of people which has been proven in many cities to have a positive impact on downtrodden communities. This too could be said about Detroit in the future.


THE CORRELATION OF ART + ARCHITECTURE Art and architecture have always come hand and hand. Through exploring the works of Gordan Matta Clark, Rachael Whiteread, and Lebbeus Woods I was able to investigate the meanings of the works to the left; which are about acceptance of loss and death, memory; that apply to Detroit as a whole. It was once a thriving city and now because of many unfortunate circumstances it is now a shrinking city filled with abandoned buildings. The conical intersect by Matta Clark is a statement against new development in Paris, reveling the structure of the building while also letting air and light in for the displaced residents that once lived there. Whiteread’s “House” is the negative space of a the last Victorian house on the street, all the works are very architectural in yet have a deeper meaning than what meets the eye. Through out my investigation into this topic you will see the correlation of how I applied these works.


DISCIPLINARY REFERENCES_10

Figure 2.0 [House 1993]

Figure 2.1 [Splitting House]

Figure 2.2 [Conical Intersect]


Figure 2.3 [Carabanchel Prison]

Figure 2.4 [Hashima Island]

Figure 2.5 [Terrain Vague]


DISCIPLINARY REFERENCES_12

TERRAIN VAGUE. The term “terrain vague” was coined by Ignasi de Solà-Morales, a professor of architectural composition. When analyzing the site of Michigan Central station I began to think of it as a terrain vague. Which is said to be, “Empty, abandoned space in which a series of occurrences have taken place.” To Ignasi de Solà-Morales places such as these subjugate the eye of the urban photographer and such urban space assumes the status of fascination, the most solvent sign with which to indicate what cities are and what our experience of them is.



DISCIPLINARY REFERENCES_14

“The mother to art is architecture. Without architecture of our own we have no soul of our own civilization. “ - Frank Lloyd Wright As previously stated, art and architecture have always had a strong correlation. With this image to the left I was exploring how images of artwork could be abstracted to possibly create architectural forms and spaces through the use of collage. Works of Gordan Matta Clark, Rachael Whiteread, Lebbeus Woods, and Georges Braque were used in this exploration.



_16

HISTORICAL INSIght.


Figure 3.0 [Brickworks]

Figure 3.1 [Kilns]

BRICKWORKS PROJECT, Toronto, CA

An old brick factory that was converted into a city park. The buildings of the factory have been restored and opened as an environmentally-focused community and cultural center. Parts of the roof structure have been exposed allowing light to fill the once dark spaces. The community has also incorporated agriculture and artist work spaces within. This project is an example of how an abandoned structure such as Michigan Central can be re-purposed and filled with life and activity once again.

Figure 3.2 [Farmers Market]

Figure 3.4 [Dirt Mounds]

Figure 3.3 [Brickworks Courtyard]


HISTORICAL INSIGHT _18

Figure 3.6 [MFO Park Flowers in bloom]

Figure 3.5 [MFO Park]

Figure 3.7 [Vertical Vegitation]

MFO PARK, Z端rich, Switzerland Once a factory MFO Park is now a large open park with flowers and vines growing vertically with light flowing through the space. This type of vertical vegetation could fill parts of Michigan Central as the roof is pealed off and the existing structure is revealed. Figure 3.8 [Vine around Wire]

Figure 3.9 [MFO Section]


Figure 3.10 [Robot Sculpture]

Figure 3.11 [Recycled Art]

HEIDELBERG PROJECT Detroit, MI

The Heidelberg Project is Detroit’s first indoor and outdoor museum, complete with an artists’ colony, creative art center, community garden, and amphitheater. This project began in 1986 as a political protest with bright polka dots and found objects attached to houses. Because of this project this neighborhood’s identity has drastically changed from an area where people were afraid to inhabit to a must see attraction in Detroit. This type of gorilla artistry is what I am proposing happens along the spur of Michigan Central Station. This is a type of artistry that will continue to change as the community continues to add and develop the space.

Figure 3.12 [Oasis of Art]

Figure 3.14 [The Artist of the Project]

Figure 3.13 [Dotty Wotty House]


HISTORICAL INSIGHT _20

COMMUNITY GARDENS Detroit, MI

Community gardens both in Downtown and Midtown Detroit. The gardens upkeep is left up to community members who donate there time to help beautify the city. Water and tools are provided and artists build sculpture pieces such as the figure to the left to incorporate into the planters. A community garden such as these will be incorporated into Michigan Central Station as a way to continue community involvement and aid in the upkeep of this monument.


MIDTOWN DETROIT TECHTOWN DISTRICT

Figure 3.15 [Core Axo]

Detroit, MI

The Techtown District in Midtown is a proposed project in Detroit which is a planned effort for the revitalization of an area in Midtown. The images the left display the vision. A grand plaza space with cafes and shops filled with people and activity. It is designed to be a flexible use gathering space with an array of program that will allow for creativity and the exchange of ideas. This district could be instrumental in bridging the activity in which I am proposing in Michigan Central Station and further play on the nothing of creating a loop of activity through out the city. Figure 3.16 [Maker Fair]

Figure 3.17 [Cafe]


HISTORICAL INSIGHT _22

Figure 3.18 [Seating near River]

CHICAGO RIVERWALK Chicago, IL

Chicago’s river walk project is an attempt to connect to the water’s edge and create gathering spaces for the public. From this project I am investigating how Detroit’s river walk could also connect to the water’s edge and fold into the landscape creating more water activities and the end of the spur which would connect back to the river walk. Figure 3.19 [View of Riverwalk]


MICHIGAN CENTRAL STATION

DETROIT

moving towards a walkable-sustainable community


HISTORICAL INSIGHT _24

greenway trail

ALONG THE RIVERFRONT. Even though Detroit is known as the shrinking city and has a substantially smaller population then it did 70 years ago, there is still a sense of life and community through out Detroit. The community is making efforts to rebuild and keep this city alive. One of the attractions is Detroit’s river walk looking onto Canada. Some of the many activities along the river walk is a carousel, beach lounge chairs, pocket parks, fishing, bike rentals, and a cafe. At the end of the river walk it leads to a public park with a 5k bike path leading into Detroit’s Eastern Market where each Saturday a large farmers market is held. Activities such as these is what makes people enjoy there city and attacts others. detroit riverwalk



LAND ART+ LANDSCAPING _26

LAND ART + LANDSCAPING Sculpting the landscape is a large part of transforming the spur into a elevated park space. By incorporating green spaces and intertwining the existing railroad tracks, large gathering spaces with shading will be created along the spur that will lead to the waters edge where water activites can occur. This is the oppourtunity for soft scaping, for a more natural folding into the landscape.


Figure 3.20 [The red list]

LIGHTENING FIELDS Walter De Maria Western New Mexico

Lightening Fields is a work comprised of 400 stainless steel poles laid out in a grid pattern. This work of art is to be experienced by walking through it, from a distance, as well as how it changes over time. This is a good example of the type of minimal artwork that art’s from the community could create along the spur. The spur and the train station would became a place for creative minds to gather, make art works and continually changing the space as they inhabit it. Figure 3.22 [Lighttnig Field]

Figure 3.21 [The Lightning Field, 1977]


LAND ART+ LANDSCAPING _28

Figure 3.23 [Blowout]

SPIRAL JETTY Robert Smithson Utah

Spiral Jetty is an earthwork sculpture, counterclockwise coil jutting from the shore into a lake. To connect the spur and the riverwalk to the waters edge soft scaping and board walks will be incorporated allowing the opportunity for activity on the water. Just as Spiral Jetty stretches into the water and delicately connects to land so would the carving and folding of the landscape to create this expanded realm for the public to inhabit. Figure 3.24 [Spiral Jetty]


Figure 3.25 [Place d’Youville]

PLACE-DYOUVILLE Claude Cormier Quebec, CA

This project is an example of how different texture could be incorporated along the ground to denote paths and gathering spaces. Along the spur I would use this technique to break up the large open space into smaller more intimate spaces with shading. Figure 3.27 [Floor Plan]

Figure 3.26 [Aerial View of Plaza]


LAND ART+ LANDSCAPING _30

Figure 3.28 [Aerial View of Highline]

Figure 3.29 [View through Buildings]

HIGHLINE PARK Diller Scofidio + Renfro New York

Highline Park is an integral example of the potential of the spur along my site. This project is an example of how the existing tracks can be incorporated creating paths and gathering spaces as well as how this elevated park transitions through the city. Aspects of this project that I will be focusing on are how are gathering spaces created, how is the program distributed along the park in relation to the surrounding context, and how do people transition from the ground level to the park. Figure 3.30 [Cityview]


DEINDUSTRIALIZATION + ABANDONED DETROIT. After the large shrinking population many of detroits buildings were left abandoned. Some have been partially demolished, burned, or left vacant to decay as can be seen from the images to the right.


DE INDUSTRIALIZATION _32

Figure 3.31 [Abandoned House]

Figure 3.32 [Pakard Factory]


GROWTH + EXPANSION Detroit’s most populated community is Midtown, located north of the city’s Downtown area. Due to the mass amount of population and activity Midtown has reached its maximum capacity and the neighboring area of Corktown is now an up-and-coming community making the location of my site ideal. By preserving and making use of this historic building space will be provided for people to live, shop, grow, create and play. Bringing life and activity to a desolate location where memories can continue to be made.


DE INDUSTRIALIZATION _34

A CITY SHRINKING. Comparison of aerial views of Detroit from 1999 and 2010. The image above is more dense and has a larger concentration of black representing a larger population then the image below.



_36

the site.


Built in 1913, Michigan Central was the largest train station in the world. It was imagined to be the beginning of new development in Corktown (a neighborhood in Detroit). However, after the great depression Henry Ford did not have the capital to develop the land surrounding the station and that was the beginning of its downfall. This imagined community would never be realized. Paired with the automobile and development of interstates, customers had little use for the train. Therefore, the traffic at the station began to dwindle. Efforts were made to keep the station open but it finally shut its door in 1988 and sits abandoned today. The images to the left are interiour and exterior images of the station as it is today.


THE SITE _38

Figure 4.0 [Michigan Central Station]

Figure 4.1 [Hallway of Offices]

Figure 4.2 [Interior of train station]

Figure 4.3 [Building Detail]


STORAGE

RAMP TO PLATFORM

WAITING ROOM CONCOURSE

MICHIGAN

EXISTING FLOOR PLAN

CENTRAL


THE SITE _40


DETROIT THROUGH THE AGES. Due to the massive decline in population the city began to shrink. The images to the left are figure ground images of the city as it has changed, or shrank. With the adaptive reuse project I am proposing the figure ground will begin to revert to the past.


THE SITE _42

1916

1950

1994

Figure 4.4 [Detroit Figuregrounds]

1960

2001


Every event has a cause and effect in life. To the left is a broad overview or journey through Detroit’s history as it developed into a thriving metropolis to it’s downfall and how it effected Michigan Central Station. Although there is a comparison that can be seen as these two subjects are overlaid my investigation however is more specifically focused on Michigan Central Station to develop a better understanding of the site and its context. Information included in the time line are as specific as the changing of owners to information about the completion and closing of rooms in the station from the beginning to the present.


THE SITE _44

Detroit’s auto industry began to decentralize, locating new plants in outlying areas The depot opened, Michigan Central Station consists two buildings: a three-story train depot and an 18-story office tower. Architects designed it like a hotel. It’s 230 feet tall and at construction, it was the largest train station in the world.

• Industry moved away from rivers and railroads • The Big Three auto com panies built twenty-five new plants in metropolitan Detroit, all of them outside the city • During the Great Depression, the city continued to be a magnet for newcomers until the early 1950s, when the city’s population peaked at nearly two million and rail travel was declining

• Detroit expanded its borders exponentially anexing all or part of the incorporated of villages of Woomere, Delray, and Fairview 1900

The railroad bought land in Detroit’s neighborhood

1908

1904 • With 285,000 residents, Detroit was compact. Most of its population lived within a few mile radius of downtown. Its manufacturing clustered along the river, whose water provided power and easy transportation for incoming supplies and outgoing goods.

Part of the dining room was partitioned off to create a kitchen on the first floor 1930 1945 1950

1916

1910

1913

1,670,144 people lived within the city limits of Detroit.

1970

1921 • By the 1920s, Detroit’s rapidly-grow ing elite began moving to sections of the city remote from the factories, to outlying city neighborhoods like Rosedale Park, English Village, and Palmer Woods, and increasingly to new suburbs The unique road configuraltion and Roosevelt Park was completed in front of the station

BSI Security purshased the station for less then $80,000 in an auction

2010

1985

1971

1972 The station was formally known as the New York Central Passenger Station since the merger of Michigan Centeral Railroad and New York Central Railroad, although it remaind commonly refered to Michigan Central Station

Mark Longton, a developer purchased the station

• Major auto plants in Detroit shut their doors 1967

Moroun announced plans to restore the station but his plan didn’t materialize The train sheds were dismantled to facilitate the use of the parcel immediately west of the station for the Candadian Pacific Railway

The last train left the station. It sat open to vandals and looters

Amtrak took over passenger service to and from Michigan Central and created a bus terminal

1982

1988

William Spenser of Citibank purchased the train station

1989

The auto industry remained Detroit’s dominant employer

The waiting room and many amenities were closed to travelors and used for storage

major changes occuring in the city puchases of Michigan Central

1990

1991

1993

1994

The New Friends of the Michigan Central Station strived to provide a physical and economic stimulus to preserve the station

MICHIGAN

CENTRAL

1996

2001

Businessman Manuel “Matty” Moroun, Detroit International Bridge Company owner, bought Michigan Central Station

2013 • Population declined to 713,777, loss of some 57 percent of the 1970 population

the rise and fall of Detroit’s automotive industry and its effect on the city



_46

adaptive reuse.



ADAPTIVE REUSE _48

EXPLORING THE ESSENCE OF DECAY. What exactly are the possibilities of working with a decaying object? With this 8x8 plaster cube, the essence of decay was explored. How to work within certain constraints and combining something new with the use of found objects. While constructing this cube I utalized some of the principles of Racheal Whiteread when applying the possibilites space created though the negative of found objects.


local products beig sold in flea-mart to create revenue within the community

pr om ot e

cr ea tiv ity


ADAPTIVE REUSE _50

developing a safe enviroment for children to play

utalizing empty plots of land for urban farming

PROJECTION OF COMMUNITY INTERACTION Michigan Central has the potential for many uses. The images above depict various activities and potential ways the train station can be utilized. Moreover, the use that would be most beneficial to the community and attract activity would be a place where people from the community can come grow, create, shop, and play. A place that is ever changing depending on the wants and needs of its community members.


Figure 5.1 [Riders Downtown]

Figure 5.2 [Couple on a Bike]

Figure 5.0 [Tour de Troit map]

Figure 5.3 [Bikers in front of station]


ADAPTIVE REUSE _52

A FUTURE FOR MCS. Michigan Central Station is used as a start and end point of the Tour de Troit event. Even though this landmark has been abandoned for years community members still use it as a gathering place. By re-purposing this space there is the potential for more development such as housing, storefronts, and urban farming; which is depicted below (an image of what the spur could potentially be in the future).


53.4 min walk | 13.5 min cycling

18.6 min walk | 4.7 min cycling

train station to riverwalk

18.6 min walk | 4.7 min cyc

riverwalk to 5k path


ADAPTIVE REUSE _54

cling

CREATING A CLOSED LOOP. PROXIMITY SCALE 1:550 PROPOSED NODES

Although Detroit is motor city, biking is also major role in the city. The image to the left shows how a closed loop bike path can be created through the city, starting at Michigan Central, and the amount of time it takes to bike from one part of the city to another.


FARMERS MARKET. To the right is a section of the existing storage room located beneath the raised platform of the railroad. The raised platform can be used as an elevated park above the farmers market; located underneath. Consumers and community members can use this area as a gathering space to hold events or as a waitng area. Below, the storage room will be transformed by carving away a portion of the existing structure and lit from light wells above.


ADAPTIVE REUSE _56


INTERIOR STUDIES. Investigations into how the waiting room and concourse could potentiallly be transformed and be reused. By pealing parts of the buildings roof off and revealing the exhisting structure it would allow light to flow through out the space and parts of the train station could be used for growing vegitation. Also, the more confined closed off spaces that were once used for telephone booths and a ticketing counter can now be used as studio spaces, adminstration offices, as well as for dining purposes.


ADAPTIVE REUSE _58


Michigan Central station has been used for artistic purposes by the art school as well as for movies and music videos. By moving the art department from the University into the station would be well suited for its large amount of square footage. Some of the spaces can be incorporated into administrative offices, class rooms, studio spaces, museums, galleries, dining facilities, artist lofts, as well as a bike shop for community members and students to rent bikes and tour Detroit. The section to the right displays how these spaces could be distributed through out the existing section of the train station as well as a proposed phasing of the project; starting with the ground level.


ADAPTIVE REUSE _60



ADAPTIVE REUSE _62

BEFORE Figure 5.4 [Concourse]

CONCOURSE. The Concourse can be utilized as an event space. The image to the left depicts the space being used as a gallery space for an opening. The graffiti on the walls is preserved and the roof of the space is opening allowing light to fill the space.


BEFORE Figure 5.5 [Waiting Room]

WAITING ROOM. The Waiting Room will be utilized as a large event space, an ongoing gallery displaying the students work throughout the year, as well as a lounge area for students to gather. This space is very massive with vaulted ceilings therefore catwalks and loft spaces will be incorporated to break up this massive space allowing students to admire the artwork from above.


ADAPTIVE REUSE _64



ADAPTIVE REUSE _66

BEFORE Figure 5.6 [Hallway of Offices]

REPURPOSING OFFICE SPACE. The upper 18 floors of office space will be utilized for administrative offices, class rooms, studios, and artists lofts. As seen in the image to the left some of the walls will be will become demolished creating larger spaces and allowing light to filter through the spaces. Sun-rooms, skylights, and multilevel floors will be incorporated to reduce the large amount of square footage while also creating more dynamic sectional qualities throughout the building.



_68

the SPUR.



THE SPUR _70



THE SPUR _72

INTEGRATNG INTO THE CITY Utilizing existing space within the cities fabric as a stage for artists and community members to have a hand in the redevelopment of their city. The image to the left displays the incorporation of the spur into the city fabric, connecting to the waters edge, creating urban farming, and utilizing the existing decay of the abandoned station.


THE SPUR. scale 1:700

A model showing the dominance of the interstate in the cities fabric, as well as the incorporation of the spur and the mapping of small nodes through out the city connecting Michigan Central to the river walk and the 5k walking path leading into the Eastern Market.


THE SPUR _74



THE SPUR _76

POTENTIAL GROWTH + PATHWAYS. scale 1:200

A model showing the proposed greenway along the spur and the growth that could potentially develop in the surrounding community. The green way can be broken up by the pathways through out the community which is demonstrated with the white string. The paths would be created by scraping the landscape and used as a wayfinding tool as one transitions along the river walk and greenway.



THE SPUR _78

MASTERPLAN SCALE 1:550 GREEN SPACE INTERVENTION NEW DEVELOPMENT EXISTING BUILDINGS INTERSTATE


90’

EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITIES. scale: 1/32” = 1’-0”

By incorporating cafe’s, shops, and gathering spaces distriputed allong the spur there will always be a continue flow of activity. By utilizing some of the techniques from my research on Gordan Matta Clark and how he sliced through buildings to bring light to social aspects I dismantles sections of the spur to create light wells allwoing light into the space below. It is not a statement against the social and political issues of Detroit but a symbol of the hope for the community by allowing air and light into a place that has been a reminder of what use to be.


THE SPUR _80

gathering space for sitting where movies could be projected and watched from a distance along the spur cafes and shops along the spur 250’ elevated platform

courtyard


FLOOR PLAN

[SECTION 1] SCALE 1:20

FLOOR PLAN

[SECTION 2] SCALE 1:20


THE SPUR _82

skylights

shaded seating areas

urban farming

pathways

skylights

railroad tracks

walkways

shaded seating areas

courtyard

train station


view of the train station in the distance

the incorporation of permanent buildings along the spur

[SECTION 1]

urban farming along the spur


THE SPUR _84

plaza spaces on ground level distributed along the path of the spur

space underneath the spur for semi-permanent shops

sections of the spur are cut out allowing light into the space below as well as to allow vegitation to grow


light wells

area where the train tracks are still in use on the ground level

incorporating restaurants and retail spaces

[SECTION 2]


THE SPUR _86

portions of the spur will decrease becoming green spaces for people to gather

courtyard space between train station and the elevated platform


SECTION 1

scale 1/16” = 1’-0”

[MODEL]

A place to grow, create, play, and shop. The activity that will be generated by incorporating these activities into a central location will welcome new development in surrounding areas; ergo utilizing decay as a catalyst for growth and development. The empty lots surrounding the station will eventually be replaced with small local shops, urban gardens, housing, and safe public plazas. Furthermore, with the adaptive reuse of this trademark of Detroit the community members will showcase their dedication to their city and rebuild one project at a time; starting with Michigan Central Station. The images that follow are a section of the spur that include shaded gathering spaces, permanent structures such as shops and cafes, bike paths, as well as displaying the accessibility to the flea-market space beneath the spur through the train station as well as from the spur. Underneath the spur are smaller gathering spaces and vegetation concentrated around the light wells as well as spaces for permanent and semi permanent shops. In keeping the unique character of Michigan Central station with its grand architecture and graffiti filled walls, the interior walls will remain and this area of Detroit will become what it was once idealized to be. However, now it will become a cultural center of the cities that will remain as a visual reminder of Detroit’s history with downfall of the train and automotive industry.


THE SPUR _88



THE SPUR _90



THE SPUR _92


LIST OF FIGURES. Figure 1.0

[MCS Interior] The Motorless City: Post Industrial Detroit. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www. themotor lesscity.com/photos/michigan-central-station/>.

Figure 2.0

[House 1993] Tate. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhi bition/unilever-series-rachel-whiteread-embankment/rachel-whiteread-0>.

Figure 2.1

[Splitting House] Obsessive Collectores. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://obsessivecollectors.com/ gordon-matta-clark-at-macba>.

Figure 2.2

[Conical Intersect] Openhouse. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://openhousebcn.wordpress. com/2012/06/19/openhouse-barcelona-macba-shop-gallery-installations-deeper-cut-art-ar chitecture-gordon-matta-clark/>.

Figure 2.3

[Carabanchel Prison] Seriouslyforreal. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://seriouslyforreal.com/seri ously-for-real/real-life-ghost-towns-that-you-can-actually-visit-28-pics/>.

Figure 2.4

[Hashima Island] Deserted Places. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://desertedplaces.blogspot. com/2012/11/hashima-ghost-island-of-japan.html>.

Figure 2.5

[Terrain Vague] Terrain Vague. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://500px.com/photo/7723355/terrainvague-by-pygmalion-karatzas>.

Figure 3.0

[Brickworks] Societeperrier. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://societeperrier.com/canada/articles/ toronto/torontos-revamped-design-and-architectural-gems/#.U1lm0_ldWRY>.

Figure 3.1

[Kilns] 1 Love T.O. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://1loveto.com/2010/09/welcome-to-evergreenbrick-works/>.

Figure 3.2

[Farmers Market] Spacing Toronto. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://spacing.ca/toron to/2010/07/23/farm-friday-evergreen-brick-works/>.

Figure 3.3

[Brickworks Courtyard] Blogto. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.blogto.com/city/2009/10/ don_valleys_abandoned_brick_works_finally_coming_back_to_life/>.

Figure 3.4

[Dirt Mounds] Illuminating Engineering Society. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.iestoronto. org/EP-BrickWorks-II.html>.

Figure 3.5

[MFO Park] Landscape Architecture Daily. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.landscapearchi tecturedaily.com/?p=2214>.

Figure 3.6

[MFO Park Flowers in bloom] andscape Architecture Daily. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www. landscapearchitecturedaily.com/?p=2214>.


FIGURES _94

Figure 3.7

[Vertical Vegitation] Landscape Architecture Daily. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.landsca pearchitecturedaily.com/?p=2214>.

Figure 3.8

[Vein around Wire] Landscape Architecture Daily. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.landsca pearchitecturedaily.com/?p=2214>.

Figure 3.9

[MFO Section] Landscape Architecture Daily. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.landscapear chitecturedaily.\com/?p=2214>.

Figure 3.10

[Robot Sculpture] CBS Detroit. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://detroit.cbslocal.com/photo-galler ies/2013/11/29/heidelberg-project-hit-by-fire-again/heidelberg-project-fire9-psweeting/>.

Figure 3.11

[Recycled Art] Urban Ghosts: Hidden History and Offbeat Travel. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http:// www.urbanghostsmedia.com/2012/02/detroit-heidelberg-project-empowering-communi ties-through-recycled-art/>.

Figure 3.12

[Oasis of Art] The Michigan Daily. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <https://www.michigandaily.com/arti cle/heidelberg-project>.

Figure 3.13

[Dotty Wotty House] The Roosevelts. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.rsvlts.com/2013/10/03/ a-different-look-at-detroit-10-photos/>.

Figure 3.14

[The Artist of the Project] The Heidelberg Project. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.heidel berg.org/>.

Figure 3.15

[Core Axo] Sasaki. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.sasaki.com/project/279/midtown-de troit-techtown-district/>.

Figure 3.16

[Maker Fair]Sasaki. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.sasaki.com/project/279/midtown-de troit-techtown-district/>.

Figure 3.17

[Cafe] Sasaki. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.sasaki.com/project/279/midtown-detroit-tech town-district/>.

Figure 3.18

[Seating near River] Sasaki. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.sasaki.com/project/134/chica go-riverwalk/>

Figure 3.19

[View of Riverwalk] Sasaki. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.sasaki.com/project/134/chica go-riverwalk/>

Figure 3.20

[The red list] Art Days. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.art-days.com/walter-de-maria-light ning-field/>.


Figure 3.21

[The Lightning Field, 1977] Dia Art Foundation. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.diaart.org/ sites/page/56/1375>.

Figure 3.22

[Lighttnig Field] In Pursuit of Design Alchemy. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://blog.glenngissler. com/2014/01/15/secrets-of-new-york-soho/lighting-field-walter-demaria-1-walter/>.

Figure 3.23

[Blowout] Scott Haefner. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://scotthaefner.com/photos/kap/2513/>.

Figure 3.24

[Spiral Jetty] Good Earth. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://heartsong.typepad.com/goodearth/ earth_beauty/>.

Figure 3.25

[Place d’Youville] Claude Cormier + Associés. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.claudecormi er.com/en/projet/place-dyouville/>.

Figure 3.26

[Aerial View of Plaza] Claude Cormier + Associés. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.clau decormier.com/en/projet/place-dyouville/>.

Figure 3.27

[Floor Plan] Claude Cormier + Associés. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.claudecormier. com/en/projet/place-dyouville/>.

Figure 3.28

[Aerial View of Highline] High Line Park. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.thehighline.org/gal leries/images/high-line-park-photos>.

Figure 3.29

[View through Buildings] High Line Park. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.thehighline.org/gal leries/images/high-line-park-photos>.

Figure 3.30

[Cityview] High Line Park. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.thehighline.org/galleries/images/ high-line-park-photos>.

Figure 3.31

[Abandoned House] The Motorless City: Post Industrial Detroit. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http:// www.themotorlesscity.com/photos/abandoned-houses/>.

Figure 3.32

[Pakard Factory] Official PSDS. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.officialpsds.com/PackardPlant-Detroit-stock2223.html>.

Figure 4.0

[Michigan Central Station] Alanna Pfeffer Photography. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.alan napfeffer.com/#!detroit/c22fo>.

Figure 4.1

[Hallway of Offices] Imperfections by Design. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://imperfection bydesign.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/abandoned-places/>.


FIGURES _96

Figure 4.2

[Interior of train station] Deserted Places. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://desertedplaces.blog spot.com/2013/07/detroit-city-in-decay.html>.

Figure 4.3

[Building Detail] Civic Arts Project. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.civicartsproject. com/2012/07/08/michigan-central-station-detroit/>.

Figure 4.4

[Detroit Figuregrounds] OLIN. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.theolinstudio.com/blog/land scape-urbanism-decoded/>.

Figure 5.0

[Tour de Troit map] Deadline Detroit Transportation. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.dead linedetroit.com/articles/6466/talking_the_tour_de_troit_bike_ride_with_organizer_bill_lusa#. U1mYn_ldWRY>.

Figure 5.1

[Riders Downtown] Model D. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/ tourdetroit92413.aspx>.

Figure 5.2

[Couple on a Bike] Model D. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://www.modeldmedia.com/features/ tourdetroit92413.aspx>.

Figure 5.3

[Bikers in front of station] Stephen Henderson’s Resurget. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http:// shendersonresurget.com/>.

Figure 5.4

[Concourse] Fort Marinus. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://fortmarinus.com/blog/325/>.

Figure 5.5

[Waiting Room] Urban Explorer. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http://urbnexplorer.com/2014/01/07/ street-scene-michigan-central-station/>.

Figure 5.6

[Hallway of Offices] The Motorless City: Post Industrial Detroit. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. <http:// www.themotorlesscity.com/photos/michigan-central-station/>.


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STACEY ALEXANDRIA BROWN. University of South Florida School of Architecure and Community Design address: 10511 Palm Cove Ave| Tampa, FL 33647 email: sabrown3@mail.usf.edu telephone: (904) 233-1832 http://www.linkedin.com/pub/stacey-alexandria-brown/48/5a4/512



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