Days of Future Past

Abstract

Without question we live in an interesting time for the city of Detroit. Those who live here, or spend significant time here, know that major shifts are well underway. Yet, we also know the problems of the city run far too deep to be fixed by one individual. Of the many problems that face Detroit, the one that concerns this project most is housing. Detroit is a singular place in the world, especially in regard to the single family detached residence. In the not so distant past Detroit arguably had more single family houses than any other city on earth. Today it still sits high above the national average with more than 65% of housing in this form. This is project is composed of a series of explorations, with each tangent related to issues of the typical, middle class, single-family home of the last century. This thesis questions the role of finished woodwork, while encouraging individuals to actively participate in the redevelopment of existing houses.