CPA Building Becomes Focus of German Architecture Students Project
Two architecture students from Stuttgart who made an extended visit to Detroit this past summer were captivated by our city and its challenges. From their visit they adopted the CPA Building, the triangular six story structure across from Slow's and facing the MCD, as the focus of a project for their studies. They have erected the website CPA-Detroit.org do outline the project and develop interaction.
http://cpa-detroit.org/wp-content/up...os-350x248.jpg
Constantin Hörburger and Jakob Rauscher where 'friends of a friend' who had helped me during an art project in Stuttgart so I was happy to have an opportunity to meet and tour a bit with them [and their artist companion Christina Schmid]. I can vouch for their sincerity and interest. I encourage any, who may wish to do so, to assist them in their effort. The letter below describes the project.
Quote:
Dear Detroiters!
We need your help.
We are two architecture students from the State Academy of Art and Design in Stuttgart, Germany. We spent some research time in Detroit last summer and fell in love not only with the ruins but with you, the people of Detroit and your spirit. [that's when we met and yeah, you should pretty much all know us...]
Especially inspiring for us was the new way of life, that Detroit is developing: the growing sense of togetherness, the thinking of 'access' and the sharing of property. This way of life is more social, economical and ecological. We can learn a lot from Detroit if we stop looking at it as a failure but consider it a role model.
Because of the spirit of Detroit and the things we can learn from you we decided to finish our architecture studies with a project about your city. We suggest to create the “Commons Production Agency” - by reusing and transforming the old CPA [[Conductor's Protective Association) building on Michigan Ave. as the starting point of a new vision for Corktown and other neighborhoods of Detroit. We want to question the relation between property and access, the participation during the design process and the architectural form. We all know car sharing, but do we know 'architecture sharing'?
To answer this question we created the website
www.cpa-detroit.org as a feedback and information platform. With short articles we will give your insight into our design process and the results, but more important will be your feedback, your knowledge, your comments, your critique, your questions and your suggestions. This website will grow as we and you will develop the project. We will update our process and new ideas, that are based on your feedback.
Feel welcome to explore the website and feel invited to give us your opinion and insight!
See you on
www.cpa-detroit.org,
Constantin and Jakob
what we're about to do...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JVB
Yeah I didn't want to be rude but I thought the same thing. The website is incomplete, mission unclear and the video doesn't help. Are they trying to raise money to buy the building? Are they just trying to solicit ideas about what could be done with the building? I really have no idea what it is they are doing.
Hello everyone,
the website is part of our final project in architecture school - it's an ongoing process. We're still collecting ideas and opinions about the building, the neighborhood and Detroit. We have not worked out any solutions and ideas yet, but we will post them as we continue to work. The website is a work in progress that integrates your opinion and knowledge in our design process.
It is a fictional project [[so far) but our interest is sincere. We are not asking for money but for your thoughts.
We are not asking for your help, because we do not know what to do, but because we believe in a collaborative planning and design process, that is benifical for all of us and the city of Detroit.
Yes, the mission is unclear so far.
Yes, the website is unfinished too.
It is your chance to become a part of it, get involved and develop ideas together with us. We would highly appreciate it!
thank you!
Constantin and Jakob
[[authors of www.cpa-detroit.org)