Detroit Design 139

Description

Detroit Design 139 is pleased to announce an open call for submissions that will result in an exhibition showcasing exceptional architecture and design work within the City of Detroit. Local, national, and international firms are encouraged to submit projects that have been, are currently being, or are planned to be built within Detroit’s 139 square miles. The top 20 submissions will be selected by an international jury and will then be displayed in the recently renovated 1001 Woodward storefront on Campus Martius in the heart of Downtown Detroit.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Detroit Design 139* is pleased to announce an open call for submissions that will result in an exhibition showcasing exceptional architecture and design work within the City of Detroit. Local, national, and international firms are encouraged to submit completed, in-pogress, and planned projects within Detroit’s 139 square miles. The top 20 submissions will be selected by an international jury and will then be displayed in the recently renovated 1001 Woodward storefront along Campus Martius in the heart of downtown Detroit.

Opening in September to align with the Detroit Design Festival, the exhibition will be open to the public for approximately four weeks. During that time, the Detroit Design 139 storefront will host a series of lectures, panels, tours, and events that, in total, make up the Detroit Design 139 Exposition – a bi-annual design advocacy initiative that aims to establish Detroit as an international leader in world-class design excellence.

DETROIT SHAPES DESIGN.

All planning, architecture, and landscape architecture project submissions will be reviewed and considered through the lens of the anticipated exhibition manifesto:

Detroit shapes Design. For generations, Detroit has advanced modern urban development with innovative design practices; the integration of the first stretch of paved concrete on Woodward Avenue, the nation’s first tri-colored traffic light, and the contribution to mass-production through innovative technology in automotive manufacturing. These evolutionary design interventions have influenced built environments throughout the world, contributing to a new way of life predicated on modern ideals of speed, efficiency, and clean, functional aesthetics. Because of this strong design legacy and international influence, Detroit was recently awarded the first UNESCO City of Design designation in the United States, joining a worldwide network of cities committed to utilizing design as a driver for sustainable urban development, social inclusion, and cultural vibrancy.
Given this distinction, Detroit Design 139 believes a higher standard is demanded for all future projects in the city. To this end, the Detroit Design 139 collaborative is promoting a call for action that all future projects within Detroit’s built and natural environment must…

• Advance design as a means to improve the quality-of-life for all people.
• Balance function and beauty.
• Advance a thoughtful design process rooted in meaningful community engagement
• Seek creative solutions to solve long-standing urban issues.
• Honor context and history through contemporary design.
• Activate the public realm.
• Balance community cohesion with aesthetic diversity.
• Impress the value of design on all projects and all audiences -- emphasizing equity, design excellence, and inclusion.
• Explore new ways to live, work, and play together in the 21st century city.
• Celebrate Detroit's design legacy, while contributing to the city's design future.

The Detroit Design 139 exhibit showcases relevant Detroit projects that answer this call for action. Collectively, these projects illustrate the future of Detroit – an urban environment populated with thoughtful projects that simultaneously honor Detroit’s design legacy while pushing the city towards becoming a leader in world-class design excellence. Detroit shapes Design.