Detroit Needs an Eye Catcher

[Strong]

I wish Detroit had a eye catcher building. Now the Renaissance Center is unique and the glass building in Campus Martius is sharp.
However in my opinion the Guardian, Buhl, First National, David Whitney and others are just huge square structures. True the interior of these buildings are sharp but exterior are just usual.

When they built the addition to the DIA I was hoping that it would be something unique but nope it was nothing special. I remember being in Milwaukee and seeing some tall poles standing high in sky, which caught my attention. So I drove towards them, and ended up at the Milwaukee Museum.


Now, the exteriors of the casinos are cute.
And, the Rosa Park Transit Center is sharp, in fact I really like it.


But, when someone builds something new, I hope that they employ a design that gets national attention.

[MidTownMs]

You can't be serious about the Guardian, Penobscot, Whitney, etc. buildings. I think you need to take a second look at these building especially the Guardian Building. BTW...it's the Buhl Building. If you think any of these buildings are just huge square structures then you need to either get glasses or get new glasses.

[michimoby]

I wish Detroit had a eye catcher building. Now the Renaissance Center is unique and the glass building in Campus Martius is sharp.
However in my opinion the Guardian, Burl, First National, David Whitney and others are just huge square structures. True the interior of these buildings are sharp but exterior are just usual.

When they built the addition to the DIA I was hoping that it would be something unique but nope it was nothing special. I remember being in Milwaukee and seeing some tall poles standing high in sky, which caught my attention. So I drove towards them, and ended up at the Milwaukee Museum.


Now, the exteriors of the casinos are cute.
And, the Rosa Park Transit Center is sharp, in fact I really like it.


But, when someone builds something new, I hope that they employ a design that gets national attention.

Nobody will ever mistake the Guardian for an airport. That's why I like it.

[Honky Tonk]

"However in my opinion the Guardian, Burl, First National, David Whitney and others are just huge square structures. True the interior of these buildings are sharp but exterior are just usual"

Have another hit, they become big butterflies........

[Strong]

Okay the Guardian is nice especially the interior.
I was looking at the AT&T Building and the building that house the Leland House or the Grand Circus Building and nothing.

[Strong]

Guardian Building

[dmike76]

I think that we have plenty of eye-catchers. I'm all for adding new ones but the most beautiful buildings that we have are the big ol' art decos.

[Strong]

Another look at downtown Detroit

[MidTownMs]

Another look at downtown Detroit

I hope your documentary consists of more than Googled images.

[southen]

the guardian is regarding nationally as one of the most beautiful skyscrapers ever constructed... EVER. the fisher falls into that category as well. detroit has amazing architecture but i agree, a modern landmark would be nice. it is going to take time though, detroit is finally making its way back and its more important to utilize the great building stock we have as opposed to just building something to build something. once we get close though expect something cool to go on the monroe block at campus martius. its prime for that kind of building, i just hope its a bit more compelling than that rendering that was floated around a few years ago.

[DetroitPlanner]

We have one. The Motor City Casino. If that don't catch your eye, you're blind.

[MidTownMs]

We have one. The Motor City Casino. If that don't catch your eye, you're blind.

I couldn't agree with you more!!!

[MidTownMs]

I wish Detroit had a eye catcher building. Now the Renaissance Center is unique and the glass building in Campus Martius is sharp.
However in my opinion the Guardian, Burl, First National, David Whitney and others are just huge square structures. True the interior of these buildings are sharp but exterior are just usual.

Strong so you think the Ren

When they built the addition to the DIA I was hoping that it would be something unique but nope it was nothing special. I remember being in Milwaukee and seeing some tall poles standing high in sky, which caught my attention. So I drove towards them, and ended up at the Milwaukee Museum.


Now, the exteriors of the casinos are cute.
And, the Rosa Park Transit Center is sharp, in fact I really like it.


But, when someone builds something new, I hope that they employ a design that gets national attention.

Strong so you think the Renaissance Center is unique. Take a look at this picture. It's the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles. Does this look familiar? Now how unique is that?

[jcole]

Strong so you think the Renaissance Center is unique. Take a look at this picture. This is not the Ren Cen. It's the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles. Now how unique is that???

And here's the Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta.

[MidTownMs]

And here's the Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta.

The same guy designed all three. I'll bet there are more. I guess he believed in the saying "why redesign the wheel."

[DetroitPlanner]

The same guy designed all three. I'll bet there are more. I guess he believed in the saying "why redesign the wheel."

While the Bonaventure is the same basic shape it is tiny! A couple of years back I was in downtown LA and could not believe how dinky it was, it always look big on TV.

I agree though John Portman was a one trick pony. Brutalist pedestal with glass above. Even the old RenCen is more welcoming that the Bonevanture!

[gthomas]

The Monroe Block!!! This is "eye-catching", almost look like Detroit but it's Dubai.

[DetroitHabitater]

We have one. The Motor City Casino. If that don't catch your eye, you're blind.

I think you mean "if it catches your eye, you are blind"

While I like the look of the Rosa Parks Transit center, the design totally over rode the function and structure completely fails to protect the pedestrians from the elements.

[gthomas]

Doesn't Time Square remind you the old Lafayette Building site where American Coney Island sits currently. The street grid is almost the same, density is the only thing different in comparison of Detroit and New York. We solely need something build on the old Lafayette Building site.

[Gistok]

Strong... you need to look higher at what we have in the way of architecture... not just at building bases [[as in your image)....

Such as this Flybydon image...

[Bham1982]

Doesn't Time Square remind you the old Lafayette Building site where American Coney Island sits currently.

Outside of the fact that they're both on Planet Earth, I'd say no.

[gthomas]

Outside of the fact that they're both on Planet Earth, I'd say no.

Not saying "Aesthetic" wise, but the street grid demographics. Stand at Campus Martius Park and look up Michigan Ave towards the Westin Book Cadillac. Visually I can see it..

[gthomas]

Look at this image and compare :

[mikeg19]

I'm partial to art deco buildings and architecture that pre-dates WWII for the most part, but something simple and elegant would be nice. Not terribly tall, 50-60 stories, I'm not a huge fan of glass curtains but that's most likely what it'd be. There's a article of every building ever proposed for Detroit that never took shape that ran in the news about 20 years ago. There were some very interesting concepts proposed that would have certainly changed up the skyline.

[gthomas]

I always liked this building for downtown Detroit, either on Lafayette building site or Monroe site.