
Hyuntek Yoon and Soobum You of Team Atelier Why shared with us their first prize winning proposal in the Detroit Riverfront competition. Their ‘Forest’ concept, which aims at being a fairy tale between the city and the forest by ‘filling’, is the focus of the urban development. Currently, the site is filled with voids, such as trees and the knoll, but the forest creates rich stories with the city. Providing spaces that are more secure and for smaller activities, people will have the chance to experience nature. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Many things fill the city and continue to do so. The act of “filling” is the virtue of urban development. For example, developers in the city of Detroit kept filling its voids. Many buildings and infrastructure have filled the city, and those became the symbol of Detroit. A rapid pace of growth is the result of such efforts to fill space. Downtown is represented by new businesses and the Renaissance of Detroit. Many skyscrapers filled the downtown Detroit area. However, the city needs space to breath. The city is far too compact to communicate with people and nature. Public spaces and nature are not enough. The site is located at the node of the radial street plan.

