Page 115 - AIT1023_E-Paper

Entwurf • Design Civilian, US-Brooklyn
“Detroit is a city with an extraordinary
design culture – both past and present –
and the city has provided a deep well of
inspiration for this project.”
Nicko Elliott, Civilian
Grundriss Erdgeschoss • Ground floor plan
Bauherr • Client Newlab, US-New York
th
Standort • Location 2050 15 Street, US-Detroit
Nutzfläche • Floor space 25.000 m 2
Fotos • Photos Brian W. Ferry, US-New York
Mehr Infos auf Seite • More info on page 150
NEWLAP HEADQUARTER
IN DETROIT
From a post office to a depot for school supplies to
the headquarters of the multidisciplinary technology
company Newlab, the history of Albert Kahn’s former
Book Depository in Michigan Central stretches back.
The new building in 1936 had already been intended to
help the city of Detroit rebuild its economy; after Civi-
lian’s revitalization, the building has a similar mission.
N one other than the German-born American architect Albert Kahn
(1869–1942) had designed the building in Art Deco style. By 1936,
he had long since become a respected industrial architect, having built
Henry Ford’s car factories and developed the assembly-line production
in the early 20th century. After being used as a post office, the imposing
building right next to Detroit’s main train station was used as a depot
for school supplies; it burned down in 1987, then fell into disrepair and
was finally purchased by the Ford Motor Company in 2018 to create a
brand-new centre for ecological mobility innovations – Michigan Cen-
tral. The first tenant was found in 2021 with Newlab, an association
of more than 900 companies focused on cutting-edge technologies. In
April of this year, the innovation hub was ready for occupancy. The Ame-
rican architectural firm Gensler was responsible for the renovation of
the building with a total floor space of 25,000 square metres, while Civi-
lian from New York were commissioned to design the interiors for New-
lab. The aim of all the interventions was to create a dialogue between
the architecture designed by Kahn and the new fixtures. By introducing
zoning spatial structures, the building retains its strict structure – inclu-
ding the supports in the form of a Martini glass – and the clear material
language. The latter is merely cautiously supplemented with new ideas,
adapted to its use as a future-oriented and sustainable place of work,
and thus builds a bridge between Kahn’s building and the work of the
engineers who work in it today. At the core of the ground floor is a
200-seat event room with a state-of-the-art robotics/prototyping area.
On the second floor, a two-storey atrium opens up, around which are
two open studio spaces with desks, several lounge areas, but also quiet
retreats for concentrated working as well as classrooms and meeting
rooms. The interior has an industrial appearance with concrete floors
and exposed services. The furniture was designed by Civilian, some of
the items exclusively for Newlab. Made of robust solid wood and lami-
nate panels, the fixtures and tables are inspired by 1930s design and
hark back to the industrial mass production influenced by Henry Ford.
AIT 10.2023 • 115