TRUE NORTH: DETROIT
SUMMARY:
New 9-unit live/work community to serve as a catalyst for Core City. Internationally acclaimed and awarded. Completed May 2017.
OVERVIEW:
True North is ten rental units in a quiet and spacious portion of Detroit - Core City. It is located just South/West of the Grand River and Warren intersection in the 48208 zip code of Detroit. Seven of the units are devoted Live/Work spaces. The community is also home to a Yoga Studio, a gallery, and an apartment style hotel room. All units use the classic Quonset Hut as the base, but incorporate architecture to elevate the standard. The project planted 40 trees. The material palette, beyond the Quonset Hut: basic drywall, Fir Plywood, Polycarbonate, and Cement. The residences were delivered as raw space to provoke the creativity of the residents. The project was built on land that was overgrown and garbage ridden since 1999, and is now the focal point of a neighborhood that had not received investment since it was damaged - physically and emotionally - during the Detroit Revolt/Riots of 1967. True North was the winner of some of the most significant Architecture prizes during the 2017/2018 award cycle, most notably serving as one of six finalists for the enlightened Mies Crown Hall America’s Prize. Most importantly, True North has served as a focal point for Core City, and has made the long-time residents proud to be a neighbor of the project, and has attracted new attention and investment from all over the world.
