Detroit in more than pose of urban style, that´s why it´s announced like only American city of design. Life there is though, but it gives place to artists, whose improve status quo.
22. 5. 2016
If you have at least minimal knowledge of world geography and economy, you probably noticed that the American city of Detroit is known as Motown, thus automobile city. Its history is linked to the production of cars, but for long time copes economic recession.
This caused damping in automotive production, with which related population decline in the city. Other consequences included migration wave of the population outside Detroit, increasing crime and corruption, deterioration of buildings. Detroit in 2013 even declared bankruptcy and is still questionable, where it is heading.
No matter how hopeless the story of the famous automobile city sounds, Detroit was in 2015 declared by UNESCO as the first and only "American City of Design" before of New York, L.A., or Chicago. Although a year later the city is not at all out of the danger zone, but there is notable creative energy. It is more than a typical carrier of its mood.
Detroit is no oasis of peace, on the contrary – it has the highest crime rate throughout the US and on average you can get help by calling the police after 50 minutes. However, local artists and entrepreneurs are positive and try to focus on development rather than on the shortages, whose are more than anywhere else in America. There are many projects and people that are trying to revive the city and preserves typical architectural character of the city. Look at them.
In Detroit is located incubator Practice space, which prepares young entrepreneurs to launch their own business. The purpose is to occupy old building and instead of its demolition to redo to new place for their business.
New spirit to the old car dealership has been given the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD). "MOCAD is where adventurous minds encounter the best in contemporary visual, literary, music, and performing arts,"1 all on the area of 6,700 square metres.
Jack Craig created Amethyst from old water-pipe
"The residuals of industry mean there’s still a lot of manufacturing expertise left over. You can still source nearly any material in the city. There’s tons of space that no one knows what to do with. "2 Local artists and architects such as Jack Craig, Kyle Hoff and Alex O'Dell create furniture from found material that is not only functional, but beautiful.
The fixed place has the organization Detroit Creative Corridor Center (DC3), which is the legal umbrella organization of creative industries, and its vision is to promote job growth in this sector and establish Detroit as a global center for design, creativity and innovation. Highlight of DC3´s work is Detroit design Festival, which are presenting best of creative industries of the city during five days of event. Learn more at http://www.detroitdesignfestival.com/about/.
Detroit is a very inspiring place, especially for those who are eternally dissatisfied with their occupation. Why? People here are not just upset, they are working to do Detroit better place. On one side due to the to poor economic situation and bad management lacks amenities and services. On the other hand, there are people who love the city and is a place full of artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, who make up more underground movement, that Detroit keeps humming. This confirms evaluation of the city itself - Detroit is the only US design city and its design history still affects the lives of its inhabitants. Keep on Rollin 'Detroit!
Emily Berger photo
Emily Berger photo
1- www.mocadetroit.org
2- Jack Craig, dizajnér
