Detroit – Architecture studio OMA has unveiled plans to transform a disused commercial bakery in Detroit’s East Village into a mixed-use art and education centre. The Lantern facility will include gallery spaces, affordable artist studios and retail spaces. It will also serve as the headquarters for two local arts non-profit organisations, Signal Return and PASC (Progressive Art Studio Collective).
The redevelopment makes use of the building’s existing structure, for example by transforming an area missing both its roof and an end wall into an accessible public courtyard. Through its design, Lantern is bolstering local skill- and community-building in a city that is experiencing a creative renaissance. Anthony Curis, co-founder of OMA, says: ‘The core of our mission in East Village is focused on creating an inclusive community centred around the arts.’
This project demonstrates an evolution of Detroit’s continuing re-invention, and the initiatives that are rebuilding the city’s commercial potential while benefitting the wider community.
Strategic opportunity
Urban planners must work to protect the needs of local groups when undertaking such redevelopment projects. Ensure the spaces you create are accessible and reflect the wider community