You're going back two layers of the Kresge Court and I agree it was simple and charming, having kind of a street cafe feel. I spent a lot of time there too stretching a cup of coffee out a couple of hours, particularly on hot summer days to take advantage of the AC. It had a lovely, if uneven, giant flagstones floor, wrought iron chairs and glass top tables interspersed by giant potted plants. Above a large fabric 'parachute' [as we called it] with a hole in the center softened the sunlight from the sky light giving the place a warm yellowish cast.
This famous picture by
Bill Rauhauser captures that look and flavor.
http://i.huffpost.com/gen/905184/original.jpg
Regrettably smoking was permitted there and in the Rivera Court[!] that had to be putting a film on the art and yellowing the parachute. Sad to say I was part of the problem in those days.
I like the current version as it is relevant to today with its connectivity aspects yet still having quiet corners. The in-between version was very disappointing. The lovely flagstones were replaced with a forgettable smooth floor and the furniture was like any coney in Detroit. A new sky light gave it a cold bluish cast and seemed to kill many of the replacement plants that always seemed sickly.
For those of you not around here,
here is a 360 Photosynth panorama I made a couple of years ago. Drag your mouse around on the picture to see all sides.