This housing development adjacent to a historic neighborhood includes a range of housing types and sizes to support various life-cycle stages and domestic configurations - from single young professionals, couples, growing families to senior-citizens. This sustainable model of development provides stabilization and promotes self sufficiency for the neighborhood by occupying underused spaces, promoting walkability and improving the quality of life for all residents.
The small block size of the existing street layout is enhanced by the reintegration of a defunct street. This, in combination with a utilization of the existing alleys, allows for a dense network of pedestrian circulation throughout the development. This network is further augmented by the greenspace/plaza connections located behind the mixed-use buildings along the commercial thoroughfares. While the alleys are made more walkable with the addition of narrow sidewalks, the linear greenspace/plazas will be pedestrian-only thoroughfares that provide an added opportunity for off-street retail market programming.
Located at the intersections of major highways, commercial thoroughfares, industrial corridors and heavy rail lines, the Core City District is diverse mix of pre World- War II industrial infrastructure surrounded by a sparsely populated residential fabric. At the heart of the district are the historic Williams Brothers Pickles and Preserves factory buildings and courtyard space, which will serve as the primary location for the boutique festivals and inclusive community events that will activate the district on a regular basis all year long, and throughout the lifespan of the development. The properties are situated just two miles from the Downtown core. The unique urban landscape of Detroit evident in this district offers many opportunities to integrate live/work/play programming holistically into both the public and private spaces. Privately owned open space can remain publicly accessible and inviting through the implementation of art installations and event programming.
In order to facilitate these new cultural and community amenities, the district has been organized into three overlapping zones based on each area’s core programmatic agenda: Producers, Consumers and Inhabitants. The process for designing a strategic framework for the development of the Core City District starts with identifying all of the existing and potential creative attributes that define the vision of the project. A lively, walkable neighborhood will be achieved by harnessing the unique assets of both the physical site and the people who will live, work, and produce within its boundary that define the vision of the project. The interrelated concepts of Cultural Activation, Lifecycle Programming, and Incremental Development guide both the design and phasing strategies to allow for economic and community investments to achieve a maximum impact, both financially and socially.
Above all, it is a lively, walkable, mixed-use neighborhood that promotes entrepreneurs and artists to produce and market their craft, and invites all those who appreciate urban culture to shop, dine, look, listen and live amongst this creative energy.
DETROIT, MI
Detroit Blows is a minority owned, one-stop, non- toxic finishing salon, providing blowouts and beauty services, and an impact-driven retail shop, stocked with a rotating lineup of socially conscious brands, from home goods to hair care products. Located in Bedrock’s award winning ‘Z-Deck’ building in Downtown Detroit, the 2600 sf space envelopes the user in a elegant and warm environment comprised of natural birch and white marble, juxtaposed against the brutalist concrete frame of the existing building’s core and shell. The glass and porcelain tile façade offers a bright, modern entry into the reception area featuring custom designed reception desk and product shelving.
COMPLETED OCTOBER 2017
DETROIT, MI
Community building through design directing. Key directives for the development of a 7,000-square-foot building on Mack Avenue: Activate street, create gathering space, and respond to community needs. Programming includes: Cafe + Laundromat, Offices, Co-working, and Youth Literacy training center.
The design blends new and old while thoughtfully exposing the stair and ceiling structures to provide an open and welcoming atmosphere within the co-working space. The building acts as a community gathering space for the emerging neighborhood with programming that serves the mix of professionals, working class, and both new and long time Detroit residents.
The Commons cafe tables and interior styling by local Detroit designer, Bohomodern studio.
COMPLETED JUNE 2018
The Competition for the Central Utility Plant design will serve a consolidated heating and cooling plant serving two developments located in the heart of a midwest Downtown Core. These two ground-up projects represent over 2.5 million square feet of new office, residential, retail, and event spaces that will stitch together the surrounding districts with innovative, sustainable, and transformative design. The CUP is comprised of ground floor retail with (5) additional levels of mechanical programming organized above and comprised of electrical services, a chiller plant, a boiler plant, condenser pumps, and rooftop cooling towers.
Pink Zoning Detroit, now called MIX TAPE, is a research project for the City of Detroit’s Planning and Development Department that targets three commercial corridors in the city for investigation. Three firms were selected to interrogate the existing zoning ordinances and existing conditions in order to envision radically new conditions for these disinvested sites. These designs are being tested against the City’s existing codes and approval processes to identify how regulatory strategies and municipal processes might be restructured to make redevelopment more successful.
Currently, small developers must navigate a complex and burdensome regulatory process, face difficulty in obtaining vacant parcels from the city, and witness poor to no enforcement of the zoning code for bad actors within the neighborhoods. Contemporary urban recovery requires a more nimble and informed set of processes to accommodate broad authorship, clarity, adaptability, and the motivating elements necessary to improve Detroit’s regulatory system.
The Director of Planning and Development for the City of Detroit, selected three design teams to assist the city re-envisioning of the outdated city zoning code through design: Farr Associates/CHA (Chicago), SmithGroupJJR (Detroit), and LAAVU. The design teams developed innovative visions and urban design processes for the three key commercial corridors in the city.
In order to encourage and establish successful small scale incremental investments on Detroit’s existing commercial corridors, Laavu recognizes that a strong connection to the adjacent neighborhoods that support these areas must be engendered. This can be achieved by a process that supports a culture of walkability for the surrounding residents who typically patronize these commercial establishments.
DETROIT, MI
Gold Cash Gold restaurant opened in a rehabilitated pawnshop in the Corktown neighbourhood of Detroit. White-washed brick walls offset the stained glass details and reclaimed lath ceiling. Massive reclaimed timbers create benches in the dining room, with pickled vegetable jars lining the shelves, adding color and warmth to the space. The restaurant features an open kitchen, 65 seat dining area, a full bar and outdoor patio.
DETROIT, MI
The project involved a 1800 sq. ft. new structure for new kitchen space and the renovation of a previously vacant 1700 sq. ft. building for retail, connected through a restored historic archway. As a gateway to Corktown, the new corner facade of the existing building creates a visual connection between Michigan Avenue and Detroit's CBD. Reclaimed wood and recycled materials are used throughout. Historic archways of the the existing building are re-opened as window and doorways. In addition, after completing a green space analysis of Corktown, we recognized the need for (and created) a pocket park to increase the walkability of the neighbourhood. A local artist, Ben Saginaw, was commissioned to create a mural on the new construction facade facing the park. Patrons can experience the bagel-making process through programmed windows while enjoying the green space. Interior illustration of 'how a bagel is made' by local artist Ben Bunk.
NOVEMBER 2013
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DETROIT, MI
The all-encompassing design at El Club -- a dynamic nightclub, music venue and bar in Southwest Detroit — includes details from a custom acoustic ceiling to the restoration of existing antique bar.
AUGUST 2016
DETROIT. MI
Playful, functional, energetic. The design for 826michigan’s Eastern Market space plays to the spirit of the creative writing nonprofit, founded by Dave Eggers, and includes an interactive retail space for the Detroit Robot Factory.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
DETROIT, MI
Design and renovation of the Heidelberg Project’s Numbers House.
UNDERCONSTRUCTION
SAINT ÉTIENNE, FRANCE
A café, meeting place and shared workspace for participants and visitors to the Saint Étienne Design Biennale in France. Situated in the courtyard of a 19th century ammunition factory, ShiftSpace was the venue for a series of encounters and discussions, as well as workshops and events as part of the official exhibition program, co-curated with Creative Many Michigan. The design included the curation of artwork, books, and objects from Detroit-based artists.
ShiftSpace features Detroit-based designers, artists and food entrepreneurs including work by: Senghor Reid, Olayami Dabls, Anders Ruhwald, Ben Saginaw, Marie Herman, Carl Wilson, Floyd, Sister Pie, and 826 Michigan - Detroit.
MARCH 2017
DETROIT, MI
Design-build interior of 950 sq. ft. bakeshop in West Village neighborhood of Detroit. With widespread community support, Sister Pie opened in April 2015. Featuring hand built pastry counter with plywood mosaic of varying thickness, representing the whole as greater than the sum of its parts. The space also features Laavu's first Miloche community table.
APRIL 2015
DETROIT, MI
in collaboration with Phillip Cooley
Incubator, accelerator, community gathering space, visionary co-op, big freewheeling ideas. We collaborated on developing the organization, programming the building, and designing the spaces.
Ponyride balances utilitarian workspaces with moments of creative energy, all driven by Detroit’s entrepreneurial spirit. Collaboration and productive drive form the ethos of the programming, spatial organization, and design interventions within the reclaimed factory.
2011
DETROIT, MI
Adaptive re-use of industrial building into a micro brewery with an attached boxcar and outdoor space. Exposed interiors, so you can see the brewing process at work, as evident as the hops climbing the urban lattice outside.
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Micro Brewery and Restaurant occupies a 4000 square foot building with an attached boxcar. The building, built in 1971, required a full rehabilitation, new exterior facade treatment, new entrances and windows, and an exterior seating deck. The interior design includes an exposed brewery to showcase the process, along with a bar and dining area to seat 40+, with a full commercial kitchen.
FEBRUARY 2015
In the news..
Infill Rowhouse -
Design concept for a more dense housing type to support the strong community culture in Detroit, featuring shared back yards, open floor plan, and integrated parking.
DETROIT, MI
Masterplan for the Wohlfeil Develpment project envisions several phases for the development of a city block along the Gratiot Avenue corridor, one of Detroit’s major thouroughfares. The vision responds to the need for an urban streetwall, street activation, and supporting outdoor urban space. The development includes renovation 25,000 sq.ft. of existing building and planning for additional future construction of additional 15,000 sq.ft., a green alley and outdoor park space, patio and parking.
DETROIT, MI
The DBH development is anchored around Laavu’s renovation of the historic Danish Brotherhood Hall, located along the Rosa Parks corridor in the Woodbridge community of Detroit. The one hundred year old social hall is situated in an area of high vacancy, adjacent to the densely occupied residential core of the neighborhood.
DETROIT, MI
Historic renovation and loft conversion of old pawnshop building built in 1887 into 6 loft residences ranging 750-1200 sq. ft., including 4 2-bedroom units and 2 1-bedroom units. Consulted on architectural design and interiors. Reclaimed floors and lath from walls striped to expose original brick. Newly constructed outdoor balcony deck offers enhanced city views.
DETROIT, MI
Design-build of reception desk for opening of the second location of David Klein Gallery, a 4,000 sq. ft. contemporary art gallery on Washington Boulevard in downtown Detroit. Anchored by reclaimed I-beam, the white concrete countertop clutches the whitewashed wood of the reception desk.
DETROIT, MI
Nora is a houseware retail store in Midtown Detroit featuring products from a wide range of design influences ranging from Scandanavian design, Japanese craft, and a variety of regional artisans. The store was one of the first tenants to open in the new Auburn Building, located at the corner of Cass Avenue and Canfield Street.
The design uses clean, beautiful lines that showcase the products, creating a memorable retail experience. Laavu assisted with the curation of products, designed the interior space, and partnered with local artisans to build out the space. Laavu designed each element to be fabricated separately by several different Detroit artisans and then assembled together, to shorten the build out time. The project was designed and built in less than three months.
The Cass Table and the Adelaide Bench are part of the burgeoning Laavu OBJECT line currently being developed. Furniture and display pieces used whitewashed oak plywood, whitewashed reclaimed Douglas Fir, heated and waxed steel and reclaimed bolts, goat leather and Pewabic tiles.
NOVEMBER 2012
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DETROIT, MI
contributors: Phillip Cooley, Christopher Turner, Jean-Philippe Monéton
This project supports and develops bike culture in the Mexicantown-Corktown Greenway System of Detroit. Laavu partnered with the Clark Park Coalition and was awarded the Healthy Environment Partnership Greenway Mini-Grant, as well as a small grant from Southwest Solutions to design and build the bicycle keep, partnering with local artisans Chris Turner and Phillip Cooley. Volunteers from Ford Motor Company participated in the preparation and construction work.
AUGUST 2011
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DETROIT, MI
in collaboration with Phillip Cooley
The newly opened Slows To Go Midtown carryout location, serves the same fare as the popular Slows restaurant of Corktown. We worked to integrate the long and monumental nature of the building into the long community tables to create an outdoor space for patrons. The two 28 foot long tables, constructed of cedar and steel, are integrated into a natural landscape of Indian grasses, liatris, trees and other plants to create a outdoor dining area while softening the hard building edge.
AUGUST 2011
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DETROIT, MI
Located in the heart of Detroit's New Center neighborhood, Cafe Nord is the second location for the community-based Cafe con Leche. The former bank office was opened up both in its volume as well as its connection to the sidewalk via an operable storefront system. An abstraction of the urban plan for the owner's native home of Barcelona forms a geometric cloud that defines the barista space. This cloud hovers over a large counter element featuring a blend of reclaimed white-washed maple flooring.
Custom tile-work designed and fabricated by a local artist Kia Arriaga. Stools and tables designed and built by Julian del Campo.
DECEMBER 2014
DETROIT, MI
in collaboration with Phillip Cooley, Nick Piotrowski
Design and build of workspace for MTV Scratch at the Detroit Renaissance Center.
contributors: Stukenborg Letterpress, Detroit Denim, Empowerment Plan, Context Furniture, Smithshop
2011
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DETROIT, MI
in collaboration with Phillip Cooley
Laavu worked with the owners of the successful and trendy Barbecue joint in Detroit's historic Corktown neighbourhood to expand the restaurant. The project included restaurant expansion to the adjacent building and a small addition as well as a complete kitchen renovation. Adding approximately 35 more seats and a new bar while integrating into the existing aesthetic, we worked with reclaimed wood, steel and graphics to create a new space for Slow's patrons. We used reclaimed wood to clad the ceiling and walls, a new black and white train graphic (created by Laavu and hand-painted by artist Zac Meers) to integrate with the existing Slows logo, and used reclaimed steel I-beams and copper for the new bar.
JANUARY 2013
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MOUND, MN
We designed and built a mökki for Olivia Ann using salvaged materials and some fresh paint on a limited budget and quick timeline.
NOVEMBER 2010
